Geothermal energy is seen as a positive opportunity by 72% of Italians, even if substantial doubts remain, above all on possible uses in the home. The highest conviction rate is recorded mainly among the over 54s and residents of the centre, with 77% and 94% respectively. This is what emerges from the "Energy of the Earth" research by the Univerde Foundation, carried out by Ipr Marketing.
The research, however, rejects Italians regarding the level of knowledge of geothermal energy for domestic use: only 34% know that it can be used to heat or cool homes while saving electricity or gas. A significantly lower percentage is instead recorded in the south and in the islands (22%).
“The research reveals a great faith of Italians in geothermal energy as clean and safe energy for the future. After the new popular rejection of nuclear power in the referendum last June, it is increasingly clear that it is necessary to invest in renewable energy and geothermal energy in Italy” comments the president of the UniVerde Foundation Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio. For the former Minister of the Environment "it is therefore a matter of spreading knowledge and investing in this new renewable as long as it is managed in a sustainable way and with the utmost attention to the precautionary principle and safety".
