The new hot water style district heating system at UBC can integrate renewable energy systems like biomass, geoexchange, solar thermal and waste heat into this natural gas system all because the barrier for entry is lower. The bouncer at the old steam heating system was pretty strict – you had to be 190 C to get in. Now you only have to get the temperature up to 80 C. It turns out you can save lots of money, and carbon emissions, by replacing those creaky old turn of the century steam pipes.”
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