Roads help heat buildings

26 May 2008

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy .

In Holland a company called Ooms Avenhorn Groep bv broke new and unusual ground in generating energy. Their really innovative idea is called Road Energy Systems, and yes, you guessed it - it generates energy out of roads.

Everybody knows how hot asphalt concrete can get because of its large heat-absorbing capacity. This company is the first in the world to extract energy from asphalt concrete.

How does it work? It’s so simple that you may ask yourself why it wasn’t discovered earlier.

In the layers of asphalt concrete runs a system of pipes connected to underground storage areas. The heated water is either stored in these areas for later use or conducted directly into buildings to support their heating system. The cooled water is stored in another area to be reused for cooling the buildings in summer.

This system isn’t only providing heating/cooling energy for buildings but also for the roads themselves. In winter the hot water keeps the roads ice free.

The advantages are measurable. road energy reduces electricity use, lowers road maintenance and deicing requirements and cuts the carbon emissions by 50%.

An innovative idea like this should spread quickly around the globe.