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District Heating and Cooling in the United States Prospects and Issues (1985) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-6

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 1...
... District heating and cooling systems have several attributes that give them an advantage under certain conditions over competing energy systems. By replacing many individual boilers with one central heating and cooling source, they can increase effective building space, reduce building construction and operating costs, and contribute to improving air quality.
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From page 2...
... Power plants have been located away from central cities, cheap~oil and gas have replaced coal as a fuel, environmental concerns have limited fuel choice, and individual boilers have replaced central heating systems. When operated by investor-owned utilities, the older urban systems have been regulated by state utility commissions in ways that often have made them uncompetitive relative to alternative fuels and heating systems.
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From page 3...
... When owned by an investor-owned utility or when designed to serve a variety of general users, district heating and cooling systems are usually subject to economic regulation by state and, in some cases, local public utility commissions. These commissions often set rates, fix returns on investment, and determine areas of service in ways that make district heating and cooling unattractive to potential investors and uncompetitive with other energy systems.
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From page 4...
... does not adequately reflect the air quality benefits gained from replacing many individual untreated boilers with one treated central heating and cooling plant. EPA's policy may need some modifications if cogeneration and urban district heating systems are to expand in number.
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From page 5...
... In particular, research is needed on improved meters, nonmetallic piping, more effective insulation, low-temperature systems, and combined district heating and cooling systems. Also needed is an improved capability for technology transfer.
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Key Terms

  • individual boilers
  • central heating
  • thermal energy
  • imported oil
  • reduce dependence

  • public utility
  • financial arrangements
  • energy efficiency
  • complex legal
  • central cities

  • increase energy
  • economic regulation
  • prevent district
  • including otherwise
  • fuel choice

  • replaced coal
  • energy agency
  • community resources
  • europeans tend
  • untreated boilers

  • power producers
  • reduce building
  • fix returns
  • taxes levied
  • view utilities

  • improving air
  • potential investors
  • coordinated policies
  • development bonds
  • view district


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