Hot water from underground is piped into a geothermal plant where it is turned into steam to drive turbines and generate electricity. Geothermal is renewable since the heat source will always be available. While the upfront costs of $23,250-$40,000 to install a geothermal system are high, it becomes more cost effective than alternatives like gas fireplaces or natural gas heating over the long term. Some advantages are consistent heating and lower long-term costs, but disadvantages include the large initial investment and needing to commit to staying in one home for many years to realize the cost savings.