Harnessing the Earth's Hidden Fire: UGM's Revolutionary Leap into Geothermal Cooling for a Cooler, Greener Indonesia Posted on December 14, 2025 | By  Robert Buluma Picture this: It's a blistering afternoon in Jakarta, the kind where the humidity clings to your skin like a second layer, and the air conditioner hums relentlessly, devouring electricity powered by distant coal plants. The planet warms, sea levels rise, and our energy bills skyrocket. But what if the solution to cooling our cities lay not in the sky's fickle sun or the wind's whisper, but deep beneath our feet,in the simmering heat of the Earth itself? This isn't science fiction; it's the bold vision being championed by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia's premier academic powerhouse, as they ignite a geothermal revolution for building cooling systems. In a move that's as groundbreaking as it is timely, UGM is spearheading the transition to clean energy by tapping into Indonesia...

URI Embraces Geothermal Innovation: Ocean Frontiers Building to Run on Clean, Subsurface Energy By: Robert Buluma The University of Rhode Island (URI) is taking bold strides toward a low-carbon future — and geothermal energy is at the heart of its latest breakthrough.  As part of the Narragansett Bay Campus revitalization, the new Ocean Frontiers Building will be powered by a cutting-edge geothermal heating and cooling system, replacing the aging Horn Laboratory with a modern hub for ocean science research. With institutions around the world racing to decarbonize, URI’s geothermal leap stands as a model for sustainable campus infrastructure, demonstrating both scientific rigor and forward-thinking environmental stewardship. Tapping the Earth for Clean Power Beginning in early 2024, URI’s Facilities Group initiated discussions on integrating geothermal energy into the campus. After assessing feasibility, the team drilled an 850-foot geothermal test well — a deep subsurface p...