Onsite - June 2009

IDHA and BOMA: In 1977 IDHA collaborated with BOMA International to publish “How to Operate and Maintain a Building and Its Heating System to Gain Greater Comfort With Minimum Steam Use.” Described as “a handy, informative little 55-page book,” it sold for $1 plus shipping and handling.

A Vote for Inclusion

In 1973, IDHA appointed a special task force to investigate whether

university members should be eligible for election as officers of the

association. The ensuing study of the constitution and by-laws led to the

recommendation that changes be made to open up the officers’ posi-

tions to university members. The proposed by-laws changes, subsequently

approved, reflected growing participation in association affairs by non-utili-

ty company members and permitted college, university and other institu-

tional members to be eligible for election to the offices of vice president

and president. IDHA’s first president representing a university was John

Vandermolen from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, in 1981.

He also was the association’s first president from Canada.

Pabst Part of District Heating’s Past

In 1896, The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company (TMER&L) in

Milwaukee, Wis., was incorporated around existing street railways, which

had recently been electrified. This company would become the Wisconsin

Electric Power Company in 1938 and We Energies in 2001.

The origins of district heating in Milwaukee date to 1897, when TMER&L

purchased various assets from brewer Frederick Pabst, including a pair of

powerhouses. The “lighting plant” on Broadway in downtown Milwaukee

also distributed waste steam to the Pabst Theater, the Pabst-owned St.

Charles Hotel, and other buildings on the east side of the Milwaukee River.

As a result, it was the earliest instance of cogeneration in what became

the We Energies steam system.

At least one customer has been served by the district heating system for

more than 100 years: Wisconsin Telephone, now AT&T Wisconsin. Drawings

from 1908 show the steam connection at its original building near Grand

(Wisconsin) Ave. and Fifth St. Wisconsin Telephone moved from this building

to its current location on North

Broadway in the 1920s, and the

‘new’ building has always been

served by the district heating

Photo Carol M. Highsmith.

system.

Currently, We Energies owns

two district heating systems in

Milwaukee and Wauwatosa,

We Energies’ long run of service continues, providing steam to one of the city’s newest buildings – the Milwaukee Art Museum – which has become a city landmark.

Wis., serving 468 steam account

customers. Source: We Energies.

International Industry News from 1979: IDHA-

member Perma-Pipe announces it has received a contract to provide more

than 200,000 ft of insulated steel pipe for the King Khalid Military City district

cooling system in Saudi Arabia. It was the company’s first contract in the

Middle East marketplace.

Local Association News: Upper Midwest Section of IDHA formed in 1981 by IDHA members at the District Heating Development Co. in St. Paul, Minn., and the Minneapolis Energy Center. A New England Section was active in the 1970s.

The number of employed engineers in the U.S.
doubled to more than 1. 5 million between
1960 and 1982.
IDHA Goes to Washington

In 1980 IDHA packed up its Pittsburgh office and moved the association’s headquarters to Washington, D.C., to be closer to the powers that be. Along with the move came a new column in District Heating magazine called “Washington Boiler,” where the executive director each issue summarized the work IDHA was conducting in the legislative arena.

A New Look: What was then known as District Heating magazine got a new look in the early 1980s.

To Merge or Not to Merge, That Was the Question

In the early 1980s a competing district energy association was born – the North American District Heating and Cooling Institute. At the time, IDHA was known for its technical background and solid utility and physical plant membership base; NADHCI became known for its legislative lobbying, marketing and a strong supplier and consultant membership base.

IDHA’s board felt it was important to consolidate the industry so it could speak with one voice in Washington, plus the association was experiencing financial constraints. As a result, IDHA approached NADHCI about a merger. IDHA President Tony Mirabella led the effort, integrating membership feedback and board direction into ongoing negotiations. There was even a proposed name: American District Heating and Cooling Association. As of the end of IDHA’s 75th anniversary year 1984, a final decision had not been reached, but negotiations continued. Ultimately the merger did not proceed and NADHCI was disbanded.

Meet Our 1984 Magazine Advertisers

ADSCO
Advanced Thermal Systems*
Aeroquip Corp.
American Hydrotherm Corp.
Armstrong Machine Works
Cadillac Meter Co.
CU Services
EBKO
EMCO
George Grant Co.
Indeck*
Isolrohr
Keeler/Dorr-Oliver

Kent Process Control Co. Pathway Bellows Protexulate Ricwil (now part of Perma-Pipe)* Spence Engineering* Swedish Trade Office Sonceboz Corp. Wehotherm Wright-Austin Co.