1334, The World's First District Heating System

摘要

Although Chaudes-Aigues (showeds-egg), France, is home to fewer than 1,000 people, it is unique in the annals of geothermal history. Here the world's first geothermal district heating system began at least 677 years ago, with waters piped to buildings and baths from a hot spring called le Par-at 82 ℃, one of the hottest in Europe (map two). The system dates at least from 1334, when it was entered on the village register of real property and the local lord received payment from his vassals using the hot waters. In the 1700s, the system was expanded and upgraded into a series of channels cut along the streets. The hot spring waters flowed through the channels and in and out of the houses and buildings along them-the same heating system used today. (The Romans heated baths and occasional villas with geothermal waters, but not towns.)