District Energy System
A community-scale thermal energy network that distributes heating or cooling from a central plant to multiple buildings through underground pipes, achieving higher efficiency than individual building systems.
Why It Matters
Some new housing developments and campuses use ground-source district energy, providing geothermal-class efficiency without individual ground loops in every building.
Related Terms
Geothermal Heat Pump (Ground Source)
A heat pump that exchanges heat with the earth via underground loops filled with circulating fluid. The ground maintains a relatively constant temperature (50-60°F) year-round.
Net Zero Community
A residential development or neighborhood designed to produce as much clean energy as it consumes collectively, through shared solar, individual rooftop systems, and high-efficiency construction.