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The main advantage of these systems is that they can be used for cooling too. The main disadvantages are that they require enormous amounts of co-ordination so
by LatteLazy 3y ago
The main advantage of these systems is that they can be used for cooling too.
The main disadvantages are that they require enormous amounts of co-ordination socially and you pretty much have to run the 24/7 (and then store heat which is wasteful). You also need a heat source (normally a large body of water) nearby.
- rini17 3y agoDistrict heating infrastructure can't be used for cooling without upgrade. But that's a solvable technical problem. Having high density housing with proper social co-ordination involved is not a bad thing. That it has to be run 24/7 means it can be more efficient that something that turns on/off all the time. Also, large thermal storage is much cheaper than many small ones and allows to better leverage changing electricity supply from renewables.
- LatteLazy 3y agoThe problem is it will HAVE to run 24/7. I like the idea of social co-ordination, but these days it is incredibly hard to actually do. :(
- psd1 3y agoThat varies with culture. District heating is more common in Europe than America. I sometimes think of the USA as a machine for converting noble ideals into intractable problems.