Improving geothermal HVAC systems with mathematics
(PHYSorg.com Mathematics)

Extreme weather events, water shortages, and other consequences of climate change have challenged-and compromised-energy infrastructure around the world. Increased energy consumption is threatening the longevity of a dependable energy supply, and significant reductions to collective energy usage are necessary to mitigate the continued effects of a warming climate. Most energy sources require fuel and emit greenhouse gases and other forms of air pollution. For example, the heating and cooling of buildings accounts for over 25 percent of the world`s energy consumption. In the European Union specifically, buildings are responsible for approximately 40 percent of energy consumption and 36 percent of carbon dioxide emission. Because nearly three-quarters of its buildings are considered energy inefficient, the EU recently updated its Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to require that all newly-constructed buildings be nearly zero-energy by 2021.