District cooling (DC) is the distribution of cooling energy, usually in the form of chilled water, from a central energy plant to multiple buildings through underground pipes.
District cooling (DC) is the distribution of cooling energy, usually in the form of chilled water, from a central cooling-generation plant to multiple buildings through underground pipes. Local district-cooling systems are up to 40% more efficient than decentralised cooling systems. By centralising the cooling infrastructure, they also remove the need for a plant room in each building. The result is:
- Up to 40% improvement in efficiency and optimised comfort
- Up to 20% savings in life-cycle cost and reduced maintenance
- Easy expansion and technological upgrades
- A complement to green-field construction and natural energy sources
- Increased fuel-use efficiency and carbon-emission savings
- Improved facility management, with no operation of complex technical machinery. District cooling also saves space and provides insight into costs
In Europe, cooling is common in public buildings and offices, cold stores, shops and hospitals. It improves productivity and raises living standards.
In countries with a hot climate, for example those in the Gulf region, district cooling covers all types of buildings connected to the district cooling system, such as residential buildings, offices, commercial buildings, public buildings, and so on.