Posted: 3/31/2009 10:24:29 AM EDT
| Does a structure have to be to benefit from the natural heating of the earth? |
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"natural heating" is kind of a misnomer. Cave effect will keep stuff cool to right around 60 degrees. I've been in...underground facilities about 60-80 ft deep with the air turned off, and it only took a couple of hours for the temperature to drop down to 60.
Heating doesn't occur until the couple of miles deep point, I would think.... |
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Quoted:
Below the frost line. 34" here in Indiana, IIRC. It varies by state to state, but the geothermal heating guys have a chart. I worked construction for 10 years, the top of watermain had to be at least 3 feet below but was usually 4 feet below the surface. |
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Quoted:
"natural heating" is kind of a misnomer. Cave effect will keep stuff cool to right around 60 degrees. I've been in...underground facilities about 60-80 ft deep with the air turned off, and it only took a couple of hours for the temperature to drop down to 60. Heating doesn't occur until the couple of miles deep point, I would think.... Cave effect is the term I'm looking for. When the top soil is -10 F deeper earth maintains about 57F. |
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When we went caving, you could feel warm air blow out of the cave (this was in the middle of winter) It was probably 55-ish down there, which was like the best temperature when you're moving about. It was probably 25 outside the cave, so it sucked when we got out with some wet gear |
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Quoted:
In Missouri, a basement with the top level with the grade will maintain right at 56F. QFT. I've dived in several underwater caves in Missouri and the water temp is 56-57*F year round. Brrrr!!! Down in Florida I've dived caves of similar depths but the water averages about 10*F warmer. Actually, depth doesn't even seem to matter. The water stays about the same whether I'm at 15' or 150' deep, near the spring vent or 1,500' back in. I suspect that one would have to drill down to some amazing depth to see any level of geothermal heating in all but the most active locations. |