An introduction to district heating and cooling: Low carbon energy for buildings

Abstract

The provision of low carbon heating and cooling is recognised as one of the hardest challenges to solve in combating climate change. This reference text is designed to impart the essential knowledge needed for new entrants to make a rapid contribution in this growing industry. Part 1 provides the historical background to the development of district heating and cooling (DH/C) and a description of the technology. Part 2 describes the engineering design of each element of the system: the heating/cooling system within the buildings, the interface equipment between the building and the heating/cooling networks, the heating/cooling network itself, and the Energy Centre where the low carbon energy is produced. Part 3 considers how DH/C compares with other low carbon options and how newer technologies and techniques may be applied in changing market conditions. Part of IOP Series in Renewable and Sustainable Power. Key features: • Presents the fundamentals of the engineering of DH/C. • Discusses the technology, operation and key components of DH/C schemes. • Shows how DH/C compares with other low carbon technologies with respect to CO2 emissions, costs, disruption and other impacts. • Discusses how DH/C can be developed in the future world of renewable energy and the low carbon economy. • Includes case studies and links to reports and papers freely available online.