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District Energy AdvantagesDistrict Energy St. Paul has brought energy efficiency and cost savings to commercial and residential customers since 1983. |
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District Energy St. Paul has brought energy efficiency and cost savings to commercial and residential customers since 1983. What Makes Us "Green"?A combined heat and power (CHP) plant adjacent District Energy is fueled primarily by clean urban wood waste, which is a form of biomass—the sustainable, renewable energy stored in green plants and other organic matter. Operation of the CHP plant has reduced District Energy's reliance on coal by 70 percent, reduced soot emissions by 50 percent and significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The facility also helps the community solve a wood waste disposal problem. Our hot water district heating system is twice as efficient as the previous steam heating system in downtown Saint Paul; we now heat twice the square footage of building space with the same amount of fuel. Air emissions have been significantly reduced; more than 150 smokestacks and 50 cooling towers on downtown buildings have been eliminated, as well as 300 chimneys on nearby homes. Our closed-loop distribution system has eliminated the use of groundwater for heating and cooling, saving an important natural resource. System reliability has exceeded 99.99 percent since heating and cooling service began. District cooling has eliminated the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants in customer buildings. CFCs are manmade chemicals, which are destroying the Earth's protective ozone shield, contributing to global warming. Our two chilled water storage tanks store water produced at night, using off-peak electricity, for daytime distribution to district cooling customers. Chilled water storage increases system efficiency and reliability, improves regional air quality and reduces regional peak electric demands. |
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