District Heating Solutions

The practical, economical, reliable and green way to heat multiple buildings

District Energy is a highly efficient, clean system to produce and distribute, steam, hot water or chilled water from a centralized plant to where these resources are needed. District energy systems are typically connected to combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which generate electric power in addition to heating and cooling allowing the combined systems to achieve energy efficiencies above 80% . Individual buildings served by a district energy system don’t need their own heating, cooling and domestic hot water equipment; only a distribution system within the facility. The district energy provides valuable benefits including:

A central plant delivers thermal energy through a series of insulated pipes to where it is needed.

  • • Improved energy efficiency
  • • Enhanced environmental protection
  • • Fuel flexibility
  • • Ease of operation and maintenance
  • • Reliability
  • • Comfort and convenience for customers
  • • Decreased life-cycle costs
  • • Decreased building capital costs
  • • Improved architectural design flexibility

Such systems are well suited for areas of concentrated buildings and population such as:

  • • Urban Centers
  • • Colleges
  • • Hospital
  • • Airport
  • • Military Bases

District Energy is widely used in Europe and in many cities in the US. On smaller scales it is popular on hospital and university campuses. It is a key strategy to meeting global emissions and energy goals.



How Does District Heating Work?

Steam or hot water is delivered through a series of insulated pipes to where it is needed. Individual buildings and homes typically only pay for the ‘heat’ they use for heating and processes.

Steam or hot water is produced at a central plant using any kind of fuel. These plants typically use cogeneration to produce electricity bringing their overall efficiency to 80%. Steam or hot water is delivered through a series of insulated pipes to where it is needed. Individual buildings and homes typically only pay for the ‘heat’ they use for heating and processes. Where the heat goes, how it is used and the quantities used are controlled and measured through temperature sensors, meters, valves and pumps. The used water/condensate is returned to the plant through a series of insulated pipes where it is treated and reused.

Blake has worked with additional technologies to bring efficiencies up to 90% or more. Contact us to find out more about Green Steam.



Why Partner with Blake Equipment

Since 1927, Blake has specialized in equipment and service for District Heating Systems. Blake works closely with Universities, Hospitals, District Heating Utilites and their engineers to supply the greenest, most efficient, reliable and cost effective solutions in the market. Because we specialize in both Thermal Energy and Water, we deliver solutions for producing hot water and steam, heat recovery, emissions control, water treatment, pumping, waste water, valves and more. As a Cleaver-Brooks since, Blake Equipment has played an integral role in steam production in the Northeast for nearly 80 years. Our engineers come from a variety of different backgrounds bringing decades of expertise to heating, process, power generation, pumping, valve, control and renewable applications.


Blake Equipment is a specialty distributor and manufacturers’ representative offering solutions that allow sustained use of water and thermal energy resources. We serve our partners who design, build, maintain and manage these systems; providing innovation through technology and best in class products and services...for a better world.


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