In the Balkan cities of Zagreb and Tuzla, there is more and more focus on energy efficiency. Individual heating systems fired with brown coal are being replaced by new and modernised district heating systems, benefiting the environment as well as the inhabitants, who enjoy a stable supply of heating and hot water together with substantial reductions in their energy bills.   

70% of all buildings in Tuzla are connected to district heating system

The Bosnian-Herzegovinian city of Tuzla has 170,000 inhabitants and the city’s goal is to connect as close to 100% of the buildings as possible to the district heating network. Up to now, 70% have been reached and at the same time the existing system has undergone major modernisation. Consequently, Tuzla has become a much greener place and its CO2 emissions are now low compared to other cities of its size. Tuzla previously suffered from a high level of air pollution due to individual heating from brown coal and oil.

Amer Karabegovic, development department manager at Centralno Grijanje Tuzla, the city’s district heating company, explains: “Individual heating through the use of brown coal is smelly and unhealthy, so we have been working hard on replacing such methods with district heating. Our rule is that every building must have its own substation. In this way consumers get a more stable heat supply and a much more comfortable temperature level. Before, the residents had overheated apartments in the winter – often 28 degrees, which is much too warm – and therefore they opened the windows to bring down the temperature. All in all a terrible waste of energy! Now they have 22 degrees.”

20% lower energy costs for consumers in Zagreb

Danfoss has also completed several district heating projects in Croatia over the last couple of years. A project in the capital, Zagreb, included 224 apartments in two separate buildings that were supplied with energy-efficient heating and hot water via a decentralised heating system. This is installed with a substation for each building, as well as individual Danfoss flat stations in each apartment, so the residents can see their individual consumption. The substations are connected to the central district heating network of Zagreb.

Doctor Nenad Nola has his private clinic in one of the buildings, covering 600 square metres. He says: “I was sceptical in the beginning, because I only have experience of a natural gas system. However, I find the new heating system very stable and easy to use. And, what is just as important, I can clearly see from my energy bill from the district heating company at the end of the month, that this system is more effective. The bill is at least 20% lower compared to former years, when I used natural gas.”

Source: Danfoss 

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