About the exhibition

Geothermal Culture is an exhibition that aims to connect people with the many ways in which they encounter geothermal resources outside of the direct production of power plants. Quality of living is very high in Iceland, and much of this comfort is due to the natural resources of the country.

Iceland is a nation that is proud of its culture and heritage, and rightly so. The country has the world’s oldest parliament, a rich and well-preserved history, a unique language, a thriving arts and culture scene, and world-famous landscapes and nature.

A key component in Icelandic life and heritage today is often ignored: geothermal culture. Many people know that geothermal resources provide heat and electricity for the country. Not as many are aware of how intrinsic geothermal resources are for daily life on the island, and of how many ways geothermal resources are part of a continuous timeline of Icelandic culture.

100 years ago, the country was just beginning to utilize geothermal resources more efficiently and on a larger scale. Today it is easy to take for granted the low costs of heating and electricity, having year-round access to outdoor pools and fresh produce, and being able to access a seemingly unlimited amount of hot water in the home.

Roughly 30% of electricity and 90% of space heating in Iceland comes from geothermal sources. Many of us also encounter geothermal energy in a variety of other ways every day. The next time you meet your friends at the pool, enjoy fresh flowers or Icelandic vegetables grown in a greenhouse, or do a load of laundry, you are coming into contact with geothermal resources.