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District Heating

District energy is the generation and distribution of thermal energy at the community level, rather than on a building-specific basis. In other words, instead of having on-site infrastructure, cumbersome boilers, and costly maintenance concerns, buildings are able to connect to an external network that delivers reliable heating and cooling. By outsourcing their energy and energy management to Enwave, our customers achieve a variety of benefits.

Flexibility

Quickly add or remove steam and cooling capacity, without additional costly investment.
No carrying costs for unused peak or projected future chiller and boiler capacities.

Reliability

Multiple heating and cooling plants all with back-up energy sources guarantee customer needs, seasonal variations, and peak demands.
System staffed and operated 24/7/365.

Rate stability

Relief from volatile electricity and gas prices affecting steam or chilled water supply.
Property managers can focus on running their core business not erratic utility costs.

Lower capital costs

Solutions available without high capital costs, whether it's additional heating or cooling or domestic hot water or steam humidification.

Increased property value

Physically removing steam boiler plants and/or chillers frees up building space and eliminates noise from mechanical rooms.

Environmental benefits

No need to worry about stack pollution, refrigerant emissions, greenhouse gases, or cooling towers.
Assured compliance with current and future environmental legislation.

Improved operations safety

Eliminating boilers, chillers, and high-pressure equipment means increased operating safety, reduced noise, and a better work environment for staff.

Peace of mind

No need to budget for unpredictable repair/replacement of chillers and boilers.
Access to the latest technologies and alternative energy sources as they come online.

Innovative solutions such as Deep Lake Water Cooling, Combined Heat and Power, and alternative fuels mean that Enwave customers will always have a state-of-the-art energy supply, at the lowest possible cost.

How does it work?

A district energy system is usually one (or more) centralized heating and/or cooling generation plants connected to a network of underground pipes that distribute steam, hot water, or chilled water to the buildings on the network.

Over Enwave's entire history, there has not been a single unscheduled interruption of steam supply to our customers – a level of reliability unmatched in the marketplace.

History

The oldest known district heating system dates back to the 1300's in Chaudes-Aigues Cantal, a village in France. The townsfolk devised a method of distributing warm water through wooden pipes that is still in use today!

The first commercial district heating system was created by Birdsill Holly in Lockport, New York, back in 1877. Holly used a boiler as his central heat source and built a loop of steam pipes, radiators, and even condensate return lines. His system started with fourteen customers. Just three years later, it served several factories as well as residential customers and had grown into a three-mile loop.

By the 1880's, district energy systems had been formed to serve a number of U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

Those early downtown electricity systems often relied on centralized steam generation for electricity production. This enabled them to boost profitability by offering both electricity and steam for heating.

District energy in Canada

The success of district energy systems across Europe led to the development of district energy in a number of Canadian communities.

Historically, Canada has had the highest per capita energy use of developed countries, as a result of our harsh climate and relatively low-cost, abundant energy. So the benefits of district energy are particularly welcome here.

The first Canadian district energy system was built in London, Ontario in 1880 to serve its university, hospital, and government complexes.
The University of Toronto launched a district heating system in 1911.
The first commercial district heating system was established in 1924 in Winnipeg's commercial core.
Canada boasts one of the northernmost district energy systems in Fort McPherson, North West Territories. Originally owned by the North West Territories Power Corporation, Fort McPherson later became Addri Ltd. - a Gwich'in (First Nations) word roughly translated as "The Light."

Fast facts

According to the International District Energy Association (IDEA), there are some 5,000 district energy systems currently in operation in the United States, heating and cooling roughly 8% of all commercial office space.
District energy was explicitly lauded in 2001 by the U.S. National Energy Policy (NEP) for its environmental and efficiency benefits.
Approximately 150 district energy systems of varying sizes are currently in operation in Canada.
The first Canadian district energy system was built in London, Ontario around 1880.
The University of Toronto initiated a district energy system in 1911 to service its needs which remains operational today.
The first commercial district heating system in Canada was established in 1924 in the City of Winnipeg.
The district energy system currently owned and managed by Enwave first began supplying district heating to downtown Toronto in the early 1960s and is currently the largest such system in Canada.

Want to connect?

Enwave focuses primarily on large commercial, government, or institutional buildings that are close to our existing infrastructure or require sufficient quantities of steam to justify creating a connection to the Enwave heating system.

Customers typically come on board when a building is built or redeveloped or when a customer's existing heating/cooling equipment reaches the end of its useful life. Customers do not normally need to install dedicated, on-site equipment. Building owners and property managers joining the Enwave network enjoy:

Unique customer-focused approach.
On-going attention to customer service and satisfaction.
Attractive rate structure that usually helps customers avoid or minimize up-front capital costs and provides stability and predictability of on-going operating costs.

To learn more about district heating and how Enwave can benefit your building or business, contact Enwave's Business Development Services.