It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Sweet tooth- Ethiopian wolves seen feeding on nectar
For the first time, Ethiopian wolves have been documented feeding on the nectar of Ethiopian red hot poker flowers.
This is the first large carnivore species ever to be documented feeding on nectar.
In doing so, the wolves may act as pollinators – perhaps the first known plant-pollinator interaction involving a large carnivore.
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New findings, published in the journal Ecology, describe a newly documented behaviour of Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis). Researchers at the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) observed Ethiopian wolves foraging for the nectar of the Ethiopian red hot poker (Kniphofia foliosa) flower. Some individuals would visit as many as 30 blooms in a single trip, with multiple wolves from different packs exploiting this resource. There is also some evidence of social learning, with juveniles being brought to the flower fields along with adults.
In doing so, the wolves’ muzzles become covered in pollen, which they could potentially transfer from flower to flower as they feed. This novel behaviour is perhaps the first known plant-pollinator interaction involving a large predator, as well as the only large meat-eating predator ever to be observed feeding on nectar.
Dr Sandra Lai, EWCP Senior Scientist based at the University of Oxford, and lead author on the new study, said: “These findings highlight just how much we still have to learn about one of the world’s most-threatened carnivores. It also demonstrates the complexity of interactions between different species living on the beautiful Roof of Africa. This extremely unique and biodiverse ecosystem remains under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation.”
Professor Claudio Sillero, EWCP founder and director based at the University of Oxford, describes seeing this behaviour: “I first became aware of the nectar of the Ethiopian red hot poker when I saw children of shepherds in the Bale Mountains licking the flowers. In no time, I had a taste of it myself - the nectar was pleasantly sweet. When I later saw the wolves doing the same, I knew they were enjoying themselves, tapping into this unusual source of energy. I am chuffed that we have now reported this behaviour as being commonplace among Ethiopian wolves and explored its ecological significance.”
The Ethiopian wolf is the rarest wild canid species in the world, and Africa’s most threatened carnivore. Found only in the Ethiopian highlands, fewer than 500 individuals survive, in 99 packs restricted to 6 Afroalpine enclaves.
The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) was set up in 1995 to protect the wolves, and their unique habitat. It is a partnership between the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at the University of Oxford, the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), and Dinkenesh Ethiopia. EWCP is the longest-running conservation programme in Ethiopia, aiming to safeguard the future of natural habitats for the benefit of wildlife and people in the highlands of Ethiopia.
War impacts on the function of children's DNA and slows development, according to new research
University of Surrey
Children living in war-torn countries not only suffer from poor mental health outcomes, but war may cause adverse biological changes at the DNA level, which could have lifelong health impacts, according to a ground-breaking study from the University of Surrey.
In the first study of its kind, the research team collected saliva samples from 1,507 Syrian refugee children, aged 6 to 19, living in informal settlements in Lebanon. They analysed DNA methylation (DNAm), an epigenetic process where chemical tags are added to DNA at various sites in the genome (the complete set of genes). These DNAm changes can turn genes on or off without changing the DNA code.
Questionnaires, completed by both the children and their caregivers, were used to measure exposure to the war-related events experienced by the child.
Surrey – in collaboration with University College London, Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care, Lebanon, St Georges University Lebanon, and a leading international NGO – found that children who had been exposed to war events showed DNA m changes at several sites and regions in the genome. Some of these changes were linked to genes involved in critical functions like neurotransmission (how nerve cells communicate) and intracellular transport (how materials move within cells).
These specific changes are not known to be present in other forms of trauma, like poverty or bullying, suggesting that war may trigger unique biological responses in the body.
This research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Professor Michael Pluess, lead author of the study from the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey, said:
"While it's common knowledge that war has an adverse impact on the mental health of children, our study has found evidence of the biological mechanisms underlying this effect. We also found that war is linked to slower epigenetic ageing – which could mean that war could be impacting the development of children.
"All told, our study paints a clearer picture of the tragic cost of war, beyond the mental stress, for the many millions of children caught in the middle of it."
This paper is part of the BIOPATH study, a cohort study which began in 2017. BIOPATH is the first large-scale study of its kind among refugee children, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of how trauma impacts mental health development.
Additionally, the researchers also looked into how the biological effects of war differ between boys and girls. They found that girls who experienced war events showed more significant DNA m changes than boys, particularly in genes linked to stress response and brain development. While both boys and girls were affected, girls showed a stronger biological response to war exposure, suggesting that they may be more vulnerable to the long-term effects of trauma at a molecular level.
DNA m is a natural process where small chemical groups, called methyl groups, are added to certain parts of our DNA. These groups act like switches, turning genes on or off or adjusting how strongly they are expressed. Importantly, this doesn't change the actual DNA sequence itself.
DNA m plays a key role in normal development and can be influenced by things like diet, stress, and exposure to trauma. When someone experiences extreme events, such as war, it can lead to changes in DNA m, which might affect their long-term physical and mental health. Scientists study these changes to understand how stressful experiences can leave lasting biological marks on the body.
Associations between war exposure and DNA methylation in Syrian refugee children and adolescents
Article Publication Date
20-Nov-2024
FOREVER CHEMICALS
Garden produce grown near Fayetteville works fluorochemical plant contains GenX, other PFAs
North Carolina State University
Residential garden produce grown near the Fayetteville Works fluorochemical plant can expose those who consume it to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to a new study conducted by researchers from North Carolina State University, East Carolina University and the Colorado School of Mines.
“It is often assumed that contaminated drinking water is the main pathway through which we are exposed to PFAS,” says Detlef Knappe, professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at NC State and a lead investigator of the study. “An important goal of our study was to determine whether people who live in PFAS-impacted communities are also exposed to PFAS through home-grown produce.”
The researchers collected 53 produce samples from five residential gardens located near the fluorochemical manufacturer Fayetteville Works in Fayetteville, N.C. Samples were analyzed for 43 PFAS. The targeted PFAS included GenX and 12 other per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) that are uniquely associated with the Chemours-owned facility.
The summed PFAS concentrations detected in as-received produce reached up to 38 nanograms per gram (ng/g), with PFEAs from the manufacturer overwhelmingly dominating the PFAS profile.
Among different types of produce studied, which included fruits, vegetables, and nuts, researchers found that water-rich produce, like berries and figs, exhibited the highest PFAS levels. When comparing frozen produce harvested in the area over time, researchers observed a general decreasing trend in PFAS levels from 2013 to 2019, though with some variations. While the exact cause of this decline is unclear, researchers suspect that interventions implemented to reduce air emissions at the nearby fluorochemical manufacturer might have played a role.
Next, the researchers looked at how PFAS exposure through consuming contaminated produce compared to exposure through drinking water. Specifically, researchers determined how much produce would give the same exposure to GenX as drinking water with 10 ng/L of GenX, the highest level allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“The comparison was made based solely on GenX because it was the only one of the detected PFEAs for which toxicity information was available,” says Pingping Meng, assistant professor of chemistry at ECU and lead author of this study.
For the site with the highest average GenX concentration in the studied produce (0.19 ng/g), the researchers found that for children, daily exposure to GenX from drinking water containing 10 ng/L GenX is similar to eating about 17 g (0.6 ounces, or about 10 blueberries) and adults eating about 68 g (2.4 ounces) of produce. These produce quantities are about nine times lower for children and four times lower for adults than the typical intake of fruits and vegetables.
To assess the long-term risk of consuming GenX-contaminated produce in impacted communities, researchers also calculated the chronic-exposure daily limit, which is the maximum amount of produce that an individual could safely consume daily.
For children aged 3 to 6 years, the daily limit for chronic exposure was 289 grams daily (about 10 ounces, or one and two-thirds cups of blueberries), which is higher than the typical value of 186 grams per day. However, the researchers note that the risk from consuming this amount of produce is likely underestimated because the calculation didn't consider other PFAS in the produce.
“We may be underestimating the risk because we are not considering the potentially additive effects of PFEA mixtures, particularly for PFEAs that were detected at concentrations higher than GenX but for which health-based reference doses are lacking,” Meng says. “Research is urgently needed to better understand the toxicity of the dominant PFEAs that we detected in the produce.”
“Our results show that people who live near Fayetteville Works and consumed locally grown fruits and vegetables were exposed to numerous PFEAs through their diet,” adds Knappe. “These findings highlight that diet, in addition to drinking water, can be an important human exposure pathway.”
The study, “Residential Garden Produce Harvested Near a Fluorochemical Manufacturer in North Carolina Can be an Important Fluoroether Exposure Pathway” appears in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and was supported by the U.S. EPA [Grant R839482: U.S. National Investigation of Transport and Exposure from Drinking Water and Diet (PFAS UNITEDD)] and the North Carolina Collaboratory. NC State co-authors include Nadia Sheppard, Sarangi Joseph and Owen Duckworth. Christopher Higgins of the Colorado School of Mines also contributed to the work.
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Note to editors: An abstract follows.
“Residential garden produce harvested near a fluorochemical manufacturer in North Carolina can be an important fluoroether exposure pathway”
Authors:Pingping Meng, East Carolina University; Nadia Sheppard, Sarangi Joseph, Owen W. Duckworth, Detlef R. U. Knappe, North Carolina State University; Christopher P. Higgins, Colorado School of Mines
Published: Nov. 20, 2024 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Abstract: Dietary intake can be an important exposure route to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Little is known about the bioaccumulation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) in garden produce from PFAS-impacted communities and the associated dietary exposure risk. In this study, fifty-three produce samples were collected from five residential gardens near a fluorochemical manufacturer. Summed PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.0026 to 38 ng/g wet weight of produce, and water-rich produce exhibited the highest PFAS levels. The PFAS signature was dominated by PFEAs, and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (commonly known as GenX) was detected in 72% of samples. Based on average measured GenX concentrations, chronic-exposure daily limits were as low as 289 g produce/day for children (3-6 yr). This analysis does not consider other PFEAs that were present at higher concentrations, but for which reference doses were not available. This study revealed that consuming residential garden produce grown in PFAS-impacted communities can be an important exposure pathway.
Credit: Colorado State University College of Natural Sciences/John Cline
Researchers at Colorado State University have found a new approach for breaking down PFAS – a group of human-made “forever” chemicals commonly used for their water-resistant properties that can carry health risks from long-term exposure.
The carbon-fluorine bond found in PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) compounds is particularly challenging to break apart. That durability has led to widespread use of these manufactured chemicals in medical, industrial and commercial settings. However, that inherent stability has also made them difficult to dispose of, and over time, they have made their way into water, air and soil across the world according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says exposure to these lingering compounds can lead to health problems, including cancer or reproductive issues.
In a paper published today in Nature, CSU researchers showcase an effective LED light-based photocatalytic system that can be used at room temperature to break down those key carbon-fluorine bonds. The system is an improvement over traditional chemical manufacturing processes that typically require high temperatures to achieve similar results.
Work at CSU was led by Professor Garret Miyake in the Department of Chemistry. His team partnered with fellow CSU chemistry Professor Robert Paton as well as Professor Niels Damrauer at the University of Colorado Boulder on the paper.
Miyake said complimentary expertise across those teams led to this high-impact interdisciplinary research finding.
“Our approach is a fundamental advancement in organic synthesis that achieves activation of these challenging carbon-fluorine bonds across a variety of situations,” he said. “Our method is more sustainable and efficient and can be used to address stubborn compounds in plastics, for example, in addition to the obvious uses around PFAS.”
Most people in the world have been exposed to PFAS by touching or eating materials containing them. A common source of exposure is drinking water, but the compounds can also be found in non-stick consumer products, food packaging, and common manufacturing processes. Research led by the EPA shows that even low-level exposure can result in developmental effects like low birth weight or reduced immune response, among many other health issues.
Postdoctoral researcher Mihai Popescu served as an author on the paper and contributed to the mechanistic understanding of the research using computational chemistry. He said the next challenge will be in taking the technology and preparing it for application in the field across many instances.
“We need to make this technology more practical so it can be used in water or soil – places where PFAS are found,” said Popescu. “We need the chemistry we are showcasing here to be useful in those conditions and that is where a lot of work remains.”
Miyake noted that similar research projects to the one discussed in the paper are happening every day through the center. Postdoctoral researcher Xin Liu – who lead the synthetic development of this work and is also a member of SuPRCat – said the work holds many possibilities.
“This paper deals specifically with forever chemicals, but our approach in SuPRCat to using LED lights presents a host of possibilities towards achieving these reactions in a more sustainable and efficient way,” said Liu. “From dealing with plastics that don’t degrade quickly to improving the manufacturing process of needed fertilizers, this is a key area and something CSU is well positioned to lead on.”
Photocatalytic C‒F bond activation in small molecules and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Article Publication Date
20-Nov-2024
Study tracks PFAS, microplastics through landfills and wastewater treatment plants
Contaminants end up in biosolids, which are sprayed on croplands as fertilizer
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau
image:
Microplastics and PFAS flow into wastewater treatment plants from landfill leachate, left, and from storm and sanitary sewers. Both contaminants accumulate in biosolid waste, most of which is carted out and spread on agricultural fields. On the right, a sample of the microplastics recovered from wastewater treatment plants in Illinois.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists analyzed the liquid waste, or leachate, released by four Illinois landfills and the inflows and outflows of associated wastewater treatment plants to determine the fate of two contaminants: microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
The good news from the study is that landfills retain most of the plastic waste that is dumped there, and wastewater treatment plants remove 99% of the microplastics and a some of the PFAS from the wastewater and landfill leachate they take in. The bad news is that both microplastics and PFAS accumulate in the biosolids that settle to the bottom of wastewater treatment plants. These biosolids must be disposed of in other ways.
The findings are reported in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
According to the industry-funded National Biosolids Data Project, 70% of the biosolids from Illinois wastewater treatment plants are used as fertilizers on agricultural land, and 30% are buried in landfills. This means that most of the microplastics and PFAS that flow into wastewater treatment plants are going right back into the environment, said John Scott, a research scientist at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who led the study with fellow ISTC research scientist Andres Prada.
“The wastewater treatment plants are just taking the contaminants from one media and putting it into another,” Scott said.
Several hundred million tons of plastics are produced each year globally, and an estimated 79% of this material ends up in landfills or “becomes fugitive in the environment,” the researchers wrote in their report. Both microplastics and the endocrine-disrupting chemicals known as PFAS are now ubiquitous: detected in soil, water and in the human body, they said.
The new study is unusual in that it calculated the mass of microplastics in landfill leachate and wastewater influent and effluent. Most studies simply count the number of microplastic particles per volume of liquid, an unreliable measure because the particles will keep breaking into smaller bits, Prada said. To get the mass, the team measured the total surface area of the plastic particles and incorporated a standard measure of thickness and density based on the most common microplastic waste types: polyethylene and polypropylene.
“Landfills and wastewater treatment plants are usually studied separately, but in reality, those are combined systems,” Prada said. “Regulations require that landfills send their liquid waste to the treatment plants.”
And many studies look at only one contaminant at a time, he said.
“We wanted to put everything together, look at both systems and give results for both contaminants,” Prada said.
The analysis revealed that while landfills do a good job of retaining microplastics, their leachate contains high levels of PFAS.
“We were surprised how high the PFAS levels were in landfill leachate, while the microplastics were lower than expected,” Prada said.
While plastics degrade more slowly in landfills due to the compression of waste and the lack of solar radiation once they’re buried, the plastics will continue to break down into smaller particles, which will eventually flow out with the leachate, Scott said.
Wastewater treatment plants are designed to take in thousands of gallons of wastewater from sanitary and storm sewer systems, and that water also carries a significant load of microplastics and PFAS. While the concentration of PFAS in water flowing through these systems is lower than that found in landfill leachate, the massive volume of water coming in from sewers brings in a higher overall load of both contaminants, the team reported.
Wastewater treatment plants can take in 10,000 gallons of wastewater per minute but only about 30,000 gallons of landfill leachate per day, Prada said.
The problem of microplastics and PFAS in biosolids is not easy to solve, the researchers said. Spreading PFAS and microplastics across cropland is not a good practice, Scott said. “But what else are we to do with it? If we landfill it, we’re just going around and around in the circle of moving it from landfill to wastewater treatment plant and back to the landfill.”
Trying to treat the biosolids before disposal is a very expensive prospect, Scott said. The best practice would be to prevent the problem of plastic and PFAS pollution further upstream, he said.
“It’s time to tell people to start moving away from these things, stop producing these things,” Scott said. “Let’s turn them off at the tap before this gets any worse.”
This research was funded by the Hazardous Waste Research Fund, which is administered by the ISTC, a part of the Prairie Research Institute at the U. of I.
The paper “Microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in landfill-wastewater treatment systems: A field study” is available online or from the U. of I. News Bureau.
Microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in landfill-wastewater treatment systems: A field study
Climate change and air pollution could risk 30 million lives annually by 2100
New study projects a sharp rise in temperature- and pollution-related mortality, with the impact of temperature surpassing that of pollution for a fifth of the global population.
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
The researchers base their calculations on projections from 2000 to 2090, analyzed in ten-year intervals. “In 2000, around 1.6 million people died each year due to extreme temperatures, both cold and heat. By the end of the century, in the most probable scenario, this figure climbs to 10.8 million, roughly a seven-fold increase. For air pollution, annual deaths in 2000 were about 4.1 million. By the century's close, this number rises to 19.5 million, a five-fold increase,” explains Dr. Andrea Pozzer, group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz and adjunct associate professor at The Cyprus Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus.
The study shows significant regional differences in future mortality rates. South and East Asia are expected to face the strongest increases, driven by aging of the population, with air pollution still playing a major role. In contrast, in high-income regions—such as Western Europe, North America, Australasia, and Asia Pacific—deaths related to extreme temperatures are expected to surpass those caused by air pollution. In some countries within these regions, such as the United States, England, France, Japan and New Zealand, this shift is already occurring. The disparity is likely to grow, with extreme temperatures becoming a more significant health risk than air pollution also in countries of Central and Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland and Romania) and parts of South America (e.g., Argentina and Chile).
By the end of the century, temperature-related health risks are expected to outweigh those linked to air pollution for a fifth of the world’s population, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive actions to mitigate this growing public health risk.
“Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it is a direct threat to public health,” says Andrea Pozzer. “These findings highlight the critical importance of implementing decisive mitigation measures now to prevent future loss of life”, adds Jean Sciare, director of the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) of The Cyprus Institute, key contributor to the study.
MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2024 – While camping is a great opportunity to unplug and connect with nature, it’s hard not to rely on some sort of technology—cellphones, radios, lanterns, and portable chargers are all useful tools to bring along while exploring the wilderness. Research by Lixian Guo at the University of Canterbury may make it possible to keep all those devices powered with another piece of equipment you’re likely to bring with you while exploring the great outdoors: camping stoves.
Guo’s work focuses on using the excess heat produced by camping stoves to create a thermoacoustic engine (TAE). TAEs convert thermal energy into acoustic energy. This acoustic energy can then be transformed into mechanical or electrical energy. When optimized, these engines can generate power ranging from tens to thousands of watts, depending on their size.
Guo will present work on a mathematical model of a portable outdoor waste heat-driven engine Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10:40 a.m., ET as part of the virtual 187th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, running Nov. 18-22, 2024.
The researchers’ work includes simulations and analyses of experimental data from waste heat produced by common camping gas stoves, aiming to design a compact outdoor TAE capable of efficiently collecting waste heat.
Guo has emphasized the versatility of this technology.
“We have considered its potential for camping, backpacking, and emergency situations, as it can operate with any heat source, including residual heat from combustion or solar energy.”
The ultimate aim of this research is to establish a foundation for more efficient energy conversion devices, with significant applications in aviation, marine engineering, and industrial waste heat recovery. By effectively harnessing waste heat, TAEs can play a vital role in promoting sustainable energy practices across different sectors.
Guo acknowledges the challenges inherent in this research but views it as a chance to expand upon their work.
“Naturally, there are challenges in this research, particularly concerning stability and energy loss. These challenges also present opportunities for deeper exploration.”
As researchers continue to refine thermoacoustic technology, the implications for energy efficiency and sustainability are profound, offering exciting possibilities for the future.
“In the 1990s, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States conducted many fascinating studies on thermoacoustic engines, using them to recover waste heat from ships to power refrigeration systems for storing ice cream. I hope my research can lay the foundation for the development of more efficient energy conversion devices in the future,” Guo said.
In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.
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How District Heating Can Transform Urban Energy Landscapes
District heating is a proven, efficient, and cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions from buildings and industries.
Several cities worldwide are implementing innovative district heating projects using diverse heat sources such as waste heat, geothermal energy, and even body heat.
The widespread adoption of district heating networks can play a significant role in achieving global decarbonization goals and transitioning to a sustainable energy future.
As governments worldwide invest heavily in a green transition, both the public and private sectors are exploring alternative options for heating that do not rely on fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the operations of buildings account for 30 percent of global final energy consumption and 26 percent of global energy-related emissions. Therefore, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels for heating and power in residential and commercial buildings will significantly support decarbonisation efforts. One method being used to provide clean heat to buildings is district heating, which is being increasingly used in big cities and densely populated areas.
District heating, also known as heat networks, involves generating heat in a centralised location and then distributing it to residences, businesses, and industry in a local area. District heating networks are efficient, low-cost and often low-carbon, meaning they offer a promising alternative to fossil-fuel-powered heating options. However, most areas that could benefit from the development of district heating networks have yet to tap into the heat source.
In 2022, district heating production accounted for around 9 percent of the world’s heating need in buildings and industry, and many of the projects continued to rely on fossil fuels. To support decarbonisation efforts, governments must, therefore, encourage the uptake of bioenergy, solar thermal, large-scale heat pumps, and geothermal technologies.
Several countries have already developed district heating networks and others are looking to do the same. In Hamburg, the government developed a network powered by the Borsigstrassee waste incineration plant (MVB) in the east of the city. Waste heat from the MVB is fed straight into the district heating network. The project has the potential to supply 35,000 households in Hamburg with heat and reduce emissions by 104,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
In Belgium, the city of Antwerp hopes to become the first to connect its buildings to a sustainable heating network by the end of the decade. The City of Antwerp is working with the global design and consultancy organisation Arcadis to produce a roadmap for the implementation of a district heating network programme that draws residual heat from industrial businesses to buildings in the city via an underground network. They hope to connect 35,000 homes to the network by 2030.
Sweden is taking an even more low-carbon approach to district heating by using body heat to reduce its conventional energy use. The government has created a network to transfer heat from Stockholm Central Station – which around 250,000 people pass through every day – to the nearby 17-story Kungsbrohuset building, to reduce energy consumption. Similarly, the Mall of America, in Minnesota, United States, does not use a central heating system and instead maintains its 21oC year-round temperature using passive solar power through 1.2 miles of skylights, with heat generated from lighting and body heat.
Now, the U.K. has big plans to develop a district heating network in London. The government announced plans to heat around 1,000 buildings, including the Houses of Parliament and the National Gallery, using low-carbon heat sourced from the River Thames, London Underground, and sewer networks. This is part of a plan to develop seven heat network zones with almost $6.4 million of public funding. The project will use a network of pipes to carry excess heat from underground to power hot water and central heating systems in London.
The $1.27 billion initiative will be carried out by heating specialists Hemiko and Vital Energi and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 75,000 tonnes a year. At present, district heat networks contribute just 3 percent of the U.K.’s heating needs. However, they could supply as much as one-fifth of the country’s heating, according to estimates by the Committee on Climate Change.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the Minister for Energy Consumers, stated, “Taking waste heat from the River Thames and London Underground to heat such iconic places as the Houses of Parliament and the National Portrait Gallery is a really exciting example of what lies ahead on our journey to low-cost, low-carbon heating. Fahnbulleh added, “This project will help support hundreds of jobs and make bold new strides towards boosting our energy security.”
A report published in February by the global engineering company Danfoss estimated that in the EU alone, excess heat was equal to 2,860 TWh annually, which could almost meet the EU’s total energy demand for heat and hot water. This suggests that the development of widescale district heat networks could massively reduce heat waste and help decarbonise residential and commercial heating. Supermarkets, transport networks, data centres, and commercial buildings are constantly releasing waste heat, yet few companies are doing anything to capture and use this heat. There is huge potential for the development of district heat networks in cities around the world, which would reduce the need for gas and electric heating and help the buildings sector decarbonise by sustainably reusing waste heat.
