Greenhouses take advantage of geothermal heat

Citizens of Pagosa Springs, Colo., will soon have an opportunity to grow vegetables and other crops in geothermal heated greenhouses. The project, which is being coordinated by the Southwest Land Alliance, will use geothermal water to heat 4-5 greenhouses totaling about 12,000 sq. ft. The project is expected to start this fall, reports The Durango Herald. Mineral springs in the region produce water that measures 130°F-150°F. The town uses a heat-exchange system to draw the heat from the mineralized water and transfer it to a fresh-water loop. The paper reports that about 40 businesses and public buildings currently use the heat. Only one other greenhouse operation in Colorado is reportedly using geothermal to heat its greenhouses.