A new community based energy utility in the industrial waterfront of Vancouver, British Columbia is using waste water and sewage to heat thousands of homes.The Southeast False Creek Neighborhood Energy Utility is using a technique that takes the heat from warm water from your drain, such as bathwater and sink water, as well as warm sewage water (with an average temperature of 65 degrees) and uses it to heat a network of high efficiency water pipes. The piping system runs underground to local buildings and distributes the heat. The water then returns to the plant to be reheated by more waste water and sewage.
Many of the buildings being serviced by the new plant are part of the Olympic Village, that since February have been converted into over 1,000 housing units. The process is cutting greenhouse gas emissions from these buildings by 65% compared to conventional methods.
The housing is being awarded Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) Platinum, the highest rating possible.
The utility also hopes to be a model for other local, community based utilities. They have built and education center in the plant to show visitors how the process works.
Who knew our 'waste' was so useful?
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