Benefits of District Energy
IS DISTRICT ENERGY RIGHT FOR YOU?
12 Benefits
to Utilize District Steam Energy
For the prospective building owner/manager, District Energy (DE) service provided by a central thermal energy system
offers a number of short and long-term economic and technical advantages by eliminating of greatly reducing many of the operating and maintenance staff and capital costs associated with boilers in individual buildings.
1. Lower Capital Costs
The principals and interest payments, property taxes and insurance costs associated with new boiler installations are all eliminated with District energy. Interested in owning your heat exchanger? Ask Seattle Steam
2. Reduce Electrical Distribution and Structural Requirements
With district Energy serving your facility for heat and domestic hot water, electrical demand is reduced, freeing up valuable circuits for other purposes. Structural requirements to support large roof-top boilers are reduced as small heat exchangers weigh little with their small footprint. Ask Seattle Steam
3. More Revenue Generating Space
Elimination of production systems and their auxiliaries within a building frees up valuable floor space for income-producing purposes, and increases architectural flexibility. The use of DE reduces vibration and noise problems and eliminates the need for stacks going up through a building.
4. Reliable Heating Service
Central utility systems typically are better maintained and operated than in-building systems. They are manned 24-hours a day by highly qualified operators, are on a strict maintenance schedule, and can be switched to a reserve fuel source as needed. Backup capacity, and backup energy plant redundancy, is always readily available, without the need for in-building reserve boilers.
5. Lower O & M Costs
With District Energy, a building has less need for highly trained on-site (24/7) maintenance and operating personnel, and costly annual maintenance contracts. Boiler operating expenses (i.e. electricity, water treatment chemicals, insurance and make-up water) are all eliminated.
6. Lower Costs With System Expansion
As more customers join each DE system, the fixed capital and operating costs are spread over a larger base, and individual energy bills are reduced and stabilized.
7. A Cleaner Environment Inside and Outside
Central energy service from a thermal plant reduces the number of power plants and smokestacks throughout a city, and protects air quality by rigid control of emissions. DE eliminates problems associated with fuel delivery through a city's congested streets, concerns over fuel availability and storage, as well as other operating and maintenance responsibilities.
8. Lower Energy Costs Through Higher Efficiency
With district thermal energy, a building purchases only the energy it needs to meet its requirements. There is no ongoing capital expense to upgrade, rebuild, or maintain excess capacity. In-building boilers typically carry excess capacity to meet occasional peak demand, which leads to inefficient partial boiler loading during most of the year. This results in poor seasonal efficiency. By contrast, central boilers are operated to achieve the highest seasonal efficiency possible.
9. Competitive, Predictable Rates
Central DE systems can quickly convert to the least cost and most readily available fuel, such as wood. Purchasing of gas can be made on an interruptible basis because of back up fuels. Other opportunities can occur to recover waste heat from the production of combined heat and power or heat recovery from other industrial sources.
10. Easier to Own & Operate a Building
District Energy eliminates the cost of special permitting, inspections of a building for boilers and licensed personnel and reduces insurance rates. Work and risk is reduced with DE.
11. Saves on Human and Financial Resources
With the savings on 24/7 plant personnel and boiler operations and maintenance, your time and capital are freed up for growing your core business.
12. Lower Lifecycle Costs
When considering District Energy, detailed evaluation of all lifecycle costs including those listed here, will reveal the total benefit of District Energy.