District energy systems (DES) centralize the production of heating or cooling for a neighbourhood or community. District steam heating plants in North America go back over a century; now, district systems are one of the potential solutions to our energy and emissions challenges.
Most district energy systems generate heat at a central plant, or extract heat from other sources. The heat is transferred to a fluid and distributed via underground pipes to buildings where it is used for space and water heating. The fluid is then returned to the source to be reheated and recirculated. Some systems also provide space cooling in a similar way. They may deliver energy services with greater efficiencies and lower emissions than individual furnaces, boilers, electric baseboards, and water heaters fuelled by oil, natural gas, propane, or electricity.
Links
[1] http://www.univercity.ca/upload/documents/boards%20-%20Open%20House%202%20Final(web).pdf
[2] http://docksidegreenenergy.com/the_energy_system.html
[3] http://toolkit.bc.ca/success-story/southeast-false-creek-neighbourhood-energy-utility-neu
[4] http://www.gibsons.ca/images/stories/pdf/Gibsons%20public%20info%20July%205-10.pdf
[5] http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/success-story/revelstoke-community-energy-system
[6] http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/Resource/District-Energy-Inventory-Canada
[7] http://toolkit.bc.ca/solution/land-use-solutions
[8] http://toolkit.bc.ca/resource/energy-efficiency-and-buildings-resource-bcs-local-governments
[9] http://toolkit.bc.ca/tool/resource-management-plans
[10] http://toolkit.bc.ca/resource/resources-waste-guide-integrated-resource-recovery-irr