Chile. The Chilean government recently announced a new strategy: to use district energy to improve its air quality.
In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Chile is increasing district heating in its cities, with US$60 million in loans aimed at improving the sector.
According to Chilean government figures, each year air pollution is responsible for 4,000 premature deaths, and costs $8 billion per year in medical expenses and lost labor productivity in the country.
The UNEP preliminary assessment in the Chilean city of Temuco concluded that a hybrid district energy project could reduce particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions by 99 per cent. In addition, by implementing a hybrid district energy approach from biomass cogeneration and heat pumps, some individual homeowners could reduce their heating and hot water costs by up to 25%.
Source: ASHRAE.
