- cross-posted to:
- nyt_gift_articles@sopuli.xyz
- climate@slrpnk.net
- cross-posted to:
- nyt_gift_articles@sopuli.xyz
- climate@slrpnk.net
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Bankside Yards is using a “fifth-generation” combined heating and cooling network that can balance energy within each building and then between buildings by collecting unwanted heat, say from a refrigerator in a restaurant or a piece of office equipment that needs to be cooled, and carrying that heat to somewhere that needs hot water or domestic heating.
Electric-powered heat pumps on building rooftops and in each apartment or commercial space then adjust the temperature of the water by withdrawing or injecting heat into the pipes to provide the heating, cooling and hot water needed in each place.
Makes sense, especially when you have a mixed use complex - a shop may run a large refrigerator and you could use the extracted heat in homes.
A friend installed air conditioning at an air force base to cool down the supercomputers running the fighter jets and I presume that heat was just vented out, where you could make use of it to heat barracks and offices.
Presumably this adds more cost and complexity to buying and installing appliances though if they have to integrate into these systems, which I’m guessing aren’t currently well standardised.
It’s an interesting idea nonetheless. I’ve heard of other projects using excess heat from large data centres to provide energy for district heating systems.
Building wide generating and averaging absolutely makes sense.
It needs tighter regulation though. As when you have apartments that are effectively tied to a provider, protections need to be in place to stop ridiculous energy price hikes and maintenance charges.
Especially as it has happened already:
Tommy Sheppard, MP for Edinburgh East is involved and has written to the government asking them to take urgent action to extend energy price caps for these residents whose homes are heated through district heating – which are now being charged at commercial rates.
Residents in Edinburgh East who receive their heat and hot water from district heating have experienced eye-watering energy bill increases on unit charges when the UK Government’s Energy Bills Discount Scheme concluded at the end of March.
Residents in one 2019 newbuild development in Greendykes, built by Places for People, have said bills having skyrocketed with some experiencing overnight price increases well in excess of £1,200 a year for heat and hot water alone.
