A large percentage of energy consumption in Norwegian households goes on heating. So, it is no wonder that people are attracted to some alternative heating methods, aiming at lowering their energy bills and thus saving some money. After all, we all strive towards paying as little as possible on our utilities, and if there is a chance for us to lower those bills, then we are undeniably going to take it.
One of those alternative solutions that has emerged as a popular one is called district heating, further defined here. It seems to have both environmental and economic advantages, so it is no wonder that it is becoming quite a popular choice nowadays. If you have heard about it already, then you most likely want to get a better idea about what it actually entails, and then decide if investing in such a system could be right for you or not.
Naturally, this is not a decision that anyone should make lightly. You don’t want to rush into anything without having enough information about it. And, that’s because you don’t want to find yourself regretting some decisions you may have made at the spur of the moment. So, it is a good thing that you are aiming at getting informed first, and then making any other moves.
Since you’re here to get informed, this is what we will do. For starters, I will answer the question of what district heating actually is and then tell you a bit more about how it actually works. Once you get a clearer understanding of that, we will proceed to the question of whether you should invest in these kinds of systems in Norway. And, although that is a decision that only you can make for yourself, perhaps we can share some relevant info that may help you decide.
What Is District Heating?
Let us begin with the very basics. What exactly is district heating in the first place? Sure, you understand that it is an alternative way of heating your property, but if that’s all you know, it certainly isn’t enough. You need to get a much better understanding of this entire concept, so let me quickly define it for you and shed light on what it entails.
So, fjernvarme, or district heating, refers to a system that distributes heat from a central source to multiple different buildings through a network of insulated pipes. The central source can be a power plant, a renewable energy source, or perhaps a waste incineration facility. The heat is, of course, produced by combustion or other energy generation processes and then transferred to the buildings to be used for water and space heating, or similar thermal applications. As explained at https://bestestrøm.no/hva-er-fjernvarme/, and as you may have concluded it yourself by now, district heating uses water to transport energy through those pipes. The buildings that receive the energy usually have radiators, or, for instance, waterborne underfloor heating.
How Does It Work?
Now that you understand what this concept actually is, you may also have a better idea about how it really works. Nevertheless, let me quickly take you through the procedure itself, so that you can understand how the energy reaches the buildings. As you will see, things really aren’t that complicated at all.
This system basically contains a heating center, as well as customer centers and the network of pipes. In the central heating plant, the water is heated to a high temperature, from where it is sent to the customer centers, through the actual pipe network. In the customer centers, the heat energy from the hot water is transferred to the internal heating system of a building, which is how the end customers get their homes heated. Of course, you’ll need to have a water-based heating system in order to be able to use this option.
Should You Invest in District Heating Systems in Norway?
The process wasn’t complicated to understand, was it? Yet, what you may be wondering now is whether there are actually any good reasons why you should invest in a district heating system for your household in Norway? Well, as already mentioned above, you are the only one who can decide whether you want to do this or not. But, it won’t hurt to get you acquainted with some of the benefits of doing it, and thus possibly make the decision making process a bit easier.
First things first, you should know that the district heating systems are quite efficient. In fact, compared to most of the traditional systems, they are the most efficient solution out there. That is undeniably a big deal, isn’t it?
Among other things, the efficiency means that you will be able to save quite a lot of money in the process. For starters, there is the fact that you may not need to purchase individual boilers, and then spend money on maintaining them as well. Then, you won’t have to worry about fuel procurement either, which will result in lower operational costs. Not to mention that these kinds of systems can lead to lower costs for the society as a whole, so it is no wonder that some Norwegian cities heat most buildings with these systems.
Furthermore, with fjernvarme, you will reduce your dependency on the volatile fuel markets, meaning that the overall energy reliability and resilience will be increased. After all, when you diversify the energy sources you are relying on, there is no doubt that you will succeed in getting a highly reliable network. That is, a system that can withstand disruptions, including equipment failures, as well as fuel shortages.
So, as you can see, there are certainly a lot of benefits that come with switching to a district heating system. As mentioned, though, this is a decision you will have to make for yourself. Thus, try to put everything on paper and take all the pros and cons into account, so as to ultimately make the best possible decision and be happy with the heating option you have chosen.
