Hot springs make green energy

Imagine having heated sidewalks outside. In the middle of winter. You wouldn’t have to shovel snow! You wouldn’t slip on the ice. Heated sidewalks are a reality in some areas of Reykjavik, Iceland thanks to geothermal energy.

Iceland is the world leader in geothermal energy due to their natural volcanic resources. Geothermal energy is used for heating in various forms, as well as electricity. And it’s really inexpensive.

According to the Iceland Trade Directory, “Around 87 percent of the population enjoy central heating by geothermal energy at a price that is generally less than half of the comparable cost of oil or electric heating, thus helping make Iceland one of the cleanest environments in Europe.”

They use this cheap and green energy to power some of the most energy-efficient data centers in the world. 

Iceland is hoping to create a pipeline for direct sales of geothermal energy to European nations. Those lucky enough to receive service can save money while helping keep the environment healthy. 

What did I learn from this?

Play to your strengths.