District Energy System (DES),Geothermal Heating Issues at Cheakamus Whistler - 2010 Olympic Athletes Village
State-of-art technology has some residents claiming they've paid thousands in repairs and maintenance by Brandon Barrett - The Pique News Magazine - Whislter Cheakamus Crossing residents are speaking out against high repair and maintenance costs associated with the neighbourhood's District Energy System (DES), an energy-efficient heating system that was touted for its potential savings on monthly utility bills before it was installed ahead of the 2010 Olympics. The DES is a closed system using relatively new technology that captures waste heat from Whistler's sewage treatment plant and pumps it into homes, assisting with ambient heating and providing hot water for homes. The system was designed to reduce household energy use and potentially save Cheakamus residents up to 30 per cent on monthly hydro bills. But with some complaining of persistent technical problems, and thousands of dollars in regular repair and maintenance costs since the system's warranty ex...