generation, particularly fueled by natural gas, should not be permitted without fully investigating the energy, environmental and cost benefits of CHP. 2. Provide feasibility and planning grants or low-interest loans for groups of buildings where district heating and cooling could provide long-term benefits. This includes college and school campuses; corporate campuses; city, federal and state office complexes; industrial parks; and central business districts. 3. Provide policies that offer incentives and financial help to district heating and cooling development. These incentives could include government-backed loans, accelerated depreciation mechanisms and permitting incentives. 4. Consider a new business model where a government entity owns the thermal piping network (similar to water and sewer systems) and a private operator operates the system and markets thermal service to customers. Thermal

energy supply to this model could be from private or government-owned energy sources.

5. Implement a national goal to increase
electric generation efficiency.

Of course, these ideas won’t cause an immediate widespread change in U.S. energy infrastructure, but they could provide the push needed for district energy to become a larger player in our overall energy system. There will always be a place for district energy in America, even with current policies. Where building owners make decisions based on life-cycle costs and long-term development plans, district energy will consistently prove attractive. On the other hand, our industry and the country can benefit greatly from a move to long-term thinking and energy systems that include a diversity of energy supplies. I am sure we would all support a revitalization of new district energy system development in the U.S. that rivals or even surpasses the great strides made by the countries of the Middle East.

David W. Wade, PE, is president of RDA Engineering Inc. in Atlanta and has been an IDEA member for more than 25 years. He has served on IDEA's board and is a past chair of ASHRAE's national technical committees dealing with building steam and hot water systems and district heating and cooling. Wade may be reached at dww@rdaeng.com.