4 ms·

Even Seattle has one of these! And the University of Washington as well. It’s amazing that the economics holds up even today. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/S

Even Seattle has one of these! And the University of Washington as well. It’s amazing that the economics holds up even today. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Steam_Company https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Steam_Company

walrus01 2y ago
Vancouver as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Energy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Energy
- kridsdale1 2y ago
  And UBC
jihadjihad 2y ago
Indianapolis, too [0, 1]: > the second largest district steam system in the United States. The plant provides steam for heat and hot water to more than 200 commercial buildings and industries across downtown. Perry K's steam also helps power chilled water facilities which cool more than 60 large facilities around downtown. [1] I grew up going to downtown Indianapolis as a kid and was always freaked out by the steam emanating from the manholes and grates on the street. It turned out not to be an unfounded fear--they have occasionally exploded [2]. 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_K._Generating_Station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_K._Generating_Station 1: https://info.citizensenergygroup.com/thermal/history https://info.citizensenergygroup.com/thermal/history 2: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/locking-covers-installed-on-downtown-indianapolis-manholes https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/locking-covers-installed-...
organsnyder 2y ago
Grand Rapids, MI, too: https://www.vicinityenergy.us/blog/our-history-vicinity-energy-in-grand-rapids/#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20steam%20distribution%20system,two%20miles%20of%20low%2Dpressure. https://www.vicinityenergy.us/blog/our-history-vicinity-ener...
taurath 2y ago
You can see the steam plant from pike place market and the steam stacks look like there’s some sort of industrial thing going on which now looks very out of place. It was interesting to figure out what the building was for! The biggest customers are the hospitals up on the hill, and the steam is used to sterilize instruments alongside heating.
2OEH8eoCRo0 2y ago
A lot of military bases have steam pipes all over the place. I think they recently demolished the Camp Lejeune steam plant
strgrd 2y ago
Montpelier, Vermont as well: https://www.montpelier-vt.org/427/Project-Background https://www.montpelier-vt.org/427/Project-Background
UltraSane 2y ago
A LOT of universities have a central heat plant that pumps hot water to all the other buildings. I think steam has been phases out because it is so much more dangerous and electric pumps make it unnecessary.
- quickthrowman 2y ago
  Yeah, a lot of institutions are removing steam for heating and replacing it with glycol loops.
  - UltraSane 2y ago
    Must be a lot lower maintenance.
    - quickthrowman 2y ago
      Much lower maintenance, and VFDs have made pumping glycol a lot more energy efficient than an older across-the-line starter.

walrus01 2y ago

Vancouver as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Energy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Energy

kridsdale1 2y ago
And UBC

jihadjihad 2y ago

Indianapolis, too [0, 1]: > the second largest district steam system in the United States. The plant provides steam for heat and hot water to more than 200 commercial buildings and industries across downtown. Perry K's steam also helps power chilled water facilities which cool more than 60 large facilities around downtown. [1] I grew up going to downtown Indianapolis as a kid and was always freaked out by the steam emanating from the manholes and grates on the street. It turned out not to be an unfounded fear--they have occasionally exploded [2]. 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_K._Generating_Station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_K._Generating_Station 1: https://info.citizensenergygroup.com/thermal/history https://info.citizensenergygroup.com/thermal/history 2: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/locking-covers-installed-on-downtown-indianapolis-manholes https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/locking-covers-installed-...

organsnyder 2y ago

Grand Rapids, MI, too: https://www.vicinityenergy.us/blog/our-history-vicinity-energy-in-grand-rapids/#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20steam%20distribution%20system,two%20miles%20of%20low%2Dpressure. https://www.vicinityenergy.us/blog/our-history-vicinity-ener...

taurath 2y ago

You can see the steam plant from pike place market and the steam stacks look like there’s some sort of industrial thing going on which now looks very out of place. It was interesting to figure out what the building was for! The biggest customers are the hospitals up on the hill, and the steam is used to sterilize instruments alongside heating.

2OEH8eoCRo0 2y ago

A lot of military bases have steam pipes all over the place. I think they recently demolished the Camp Lejeune steam plant

strgrd 2y ago

Montpelier, Vermont as well: https://www.montpelier-vt.org/427/Project-Background https://www.montpelier-vt.org/427/Project-Background

UltraSane 2y ago

A LOT of universities have a central heat plant that pumps hot water to all the other buildings. I think steam has been phases out because it is so much more dangerous and electric pumps make it unnecessary.

quickthrowman 2y ago
Yeah, a lot of institutions are removing steam for heating and replacing it with glycol loops.
- UltraSane 2y ago
  Must be a lot lower maintenance.
  - quickthrowman 2y ago
    Much lower maintenance, and VFDs have made pumping glycol a lot more energy efficient than an older across-the-line starter.