A concept used by used by the ancient Romans to heat their homes has now been developed to provide efficient, cost-effective cooling, using a system which is environment-friendly and reduces sound pollution.

Known as district cooling, the system takes chilled water from a cooling plant through a network of pipes to multiple residential, industrial and commercial buildings for air-conditioning use.

The depletion of the ozone layer due to emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), and other types of chlorinated refrigerants, is an issue that has been a key driver behind the international growth in district cooling. The refrigerants that are typically used here in the UAE have not been phased out yet, but they are targeted for phase-out in the years to come and this is going to be a continuing factor.

The trend towards outsourcing has been another reason behind the growth in district cooling. Outsourcing is simply a term for businesses contracting out non-core activities rather than providing these in-house. This allows a business to deploy and focus its time and assets on core activities.

The transition from an electric utility monopoly, to a market-based power sector, in the US, has also been a key driver behind the growth of district cooling.

Many companies that are creating these systems are power or electric utility companies who see this system as a way to retain business they fear they would otherwise lose in a market-based power sector and improve overall efficiency and plant utilization.

Electric restructuring in concert with the trends toward outsourcing and environmental concerns is also fuelling a renaissance for the district energy industry.

District cooling systems provide a variety of benefits, both qualitative and economic.

The qualitative advantage is perceived in terms of better comfort, better reliability, and maximised convenience.

Mechanical cooling and air-conditioning requirements are growing rapidly throughout the world, partly because there are many new buildings being built and partly because those buildings are being built in warm climates. However, no matter where those buildings are built, they tend to be tighter and more densely packed than they used to be. This creates a need for air-conditioning even in very cold climates.

People are also increasingly emitting more and more heat into buildings through all types of electronic equipment that generate extra heat such as computers and various other gadgets. All this has led to a growing demand for comfort in homes and offices, a need that is directly addressed by district cooling.

The economic benefits can be experienced by both the owner and the tenant, where the capital costs of control panels, internal power distribution, annual maintenance and power consumption inside the building are reduced, and the chillers are eliminated.

Tangible benefits include: