district heating tourism

District Heating

What is District Heating

District energy is a proven technology that has been around for decades. Most major cities have a district energy system and landmark buildings around the world receive thermal energy from a district system. District heating is an underground infrastructure asset where thermal energy is provided to multiple buildings from a central energy plant or plants. Steam or hot water produced at the plant is transmitted 24/7 through highly insulated underground thermal piping networks. The thermal energy is transferred to the building’s heating system, avoiding the need for boilers in individual buildings.

Why District Heating?

District heating can help improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, enable fuel flexibility, simplify building operations and maintenance, decrease costs, serve as vital infrastructure, and provide high quality jobs. Because thermal energy is delivered to buildings in a usable form, customers avoid installing expensive boilers and avoid costs for operations, maintenance, repair and replacement. District heating service simplifies building operations, allow customers precise control over heating and provides flexibility to adapt as occupant needs change or building efficiency improves. The critical advantage is that connecting multiple buildings to a district system creates economies of scale that enable the deployment of more efficient, resilient local energy resources. This scale also enables integration of cleaner options like CHP, waste to energy, biomass, geothermal, and other renewables which significantly cut emissions unachievable on a building by building basis. District heating networks are useful energy infrastructure assets for cities, communities, and campuses.

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Related Topics

District cooling, recent articles.

district heating tourism

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Modern District Heating

district heating illustration

Modern district heating (DH) is actually more than 100 years old . Modern DH started around the turn of the 20th century n Moscow, Frederiksberg , and Copenhagen . It’s used in European nations, Russia, and China to a more significant degree today than in the rest of the world, however, district heating has risen in popularity and use throughout much of the rest of the world.

District heating is also known as "district energy ", as there are district systems that can provide both heating and cooling . Using district cooling, like district heating, is more cost-efficient and fuel-efficient than traditional heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC).

District energy has proven its effectiveness in improving energy efficiency for buildings primarily throughout Europe and Asia, although these systems are gaining ground in the rest of the world, as well.  Here is a chart that illustrates where district heating and cooling is found, and information on what sector it's used for-

District Heating

In this article, the focus is on district heating , which like district cooling, is more efficient than conventional HVAC. Please note that:

"The cold deliveries from  district cooling systems  are much smaller than heat deliveries from  district heating systems ." [quote from - sciencedirect.com ]

DH is generally implemented when a municipality makes use of otherwise wasted heat. DH uses excess heat from a power plant to create heat for buildings or homes in a city by sending the heat (usually in the form of heated water, steam, or gas) through insulated pipes to homes and buildings to be used as space or water heating.

Heat and energy for district heating are often derived from the use of excess heat from energy generation in combined heat and power (CHP) plants . District heating systems using cutting-edge technologies were designed and introduced in the 1980s (with constant breakthroughs since then)-- with automatic control, remote monitoring, and unmanned operations.

Please also see:

Combined Heat and Power (Cogeneration) - Making the Most Out of Energy

For any modern city with a dense population, a district heating supply offers the most significant contribution to ensuring energy efficiency that's readily available (as discussed in this UN Environment article ). District heating is used in many large and small cities across Europe, but needs to be used more in major cities throughout the world.

Please also see: Improving Energy Efficiency

Energy Saving Ideas

  • Install double-pane windows in your home
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  • Turn down the thermostat - lowering it by just one degree can reduce heating energy costs significantly; consider a smart thermostat
  • Avoid unnecessary electricity loads (electrical equipment that still uses energy even after being turned off) by using a power strip
  • Reduce your water heater temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees
  • Consider a Home Energy Management system
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Ideas for a Greener Lifestyle

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District Heating 206

District heating.

Guide to District Heating

  • STADSVERWARMING EN HEATNET-NWE
  • A PROPOS DES RÉSEAUX DES CHALEURS ET HEATNET NWE

district heating tourism

BENEFITS OF DISTRICT HEATING

District heating has many economic, environmental and social benefits, such as carbon reduction, reduced maintenance costs, increased comfort and reduced fuel poverty. 

Local authorities, building developers, building managers and customers can all benefit from the development of a district heating network in their area.

district heating tourism

Benefits to Local Authorities

District heating can provide numerous environmental, economic and social benefits for local authorities. 

For example, it can contribute significantly to EU and national energy targets, through a reduction in carbon emissions and a greater uptake in renewable energy. It is also a more flexible and reliable system and can provide a sustainable revenue stream for public sector organisations. District heating can also help reduce fuel poverty for the local authority’s tenants.

Benefits for Building Developers

District heating networks have advantages for developers over traditional heating systems.

For example, in Ireland, district heating is supported at national government level and satisfies planning and building regulations in a cost-effective, innovative way.

Financially, the upfront capital costs and the costs associated with apartment floor area lost to boilers are much lower with a district heating system. Maintenance costs and costs to the consumer are typically lower as well.

Connecting to a district heating system can also help to improve developer profiles and strengthen customer relationships, as it is an extremely reliable and safe technology, providing a steady, constant supply of heat 24 hours a day.

Benefits for Customers and Clients

The benefits of district heating for consumers include lower maintenance and energy bills, as well as improved indoor comfort and hot water on-demand 24 hours a day. District heating can also improve the energy ratings of buildings connected to it, potentially also increasing their value.

There are also health and safety benefits, as the absence of boilers and fuel storage reduces risks of fire, explosion and carbon monoxide buildup. As district heating networks are mostly fuelled by renewable and local energy, this also leads to improved air quality. It is also much quieter than traditional heating systems.

District heating also has wider societal and environmental benefits for consumers, such as the creation of green jobs and reduction of fuel poverty. Its environmental benefits include reduced carbon emissions, therefore contributing to EU and national carbon reduction targets, and reduced dependency on fossil fuels and international markets.

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Contact us to find out how to implement a district heating network in your own area

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district heating tourism

District Heating

What is District Heating

District energy is a proven technology that has been around for decades. Most major cities have a district energy system and landmark buildings around the world receive thermal energy from a district system. District heating is an underground infrastructure asset where thermal energy is provided to multiple buildings from a central energy plant or plants. Steam or hot water produced at the plant is transmitted 24/7 through highly insulated underground thermal piping networks. The thermal energy is transferred to the building’s heating system, avoiding the need for boilers in individual buildings.

Why District Heating?

District heating can help improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, enable fuel flexibility, simplify building operations and maintenance, decrease costs, serve as vital infrastructure, and provide high quality jobs. Because thermal energy is delivered to buildings in a usable form, customers avoid installing expensive boilers and avoid costs for operations, maintenance, repair and replacement. District heating service simplifies building operations, allow customers precise control over heating and provides flexibility to adapt as occupant needs change or building efficiency improves. The critical advantage is that connecting multiple buildings to a district system creates economies of scale that enable the deployment of more efficient, resilient local energy resources. This scale also enables integration of cleaner options like CHP, waste to energy, biomass, geothermal, and other renewables which significantly cut emissions unachievable on a building by building basis. District heating networks are useful energy infrastructure assets for cities, communities, and campuses.

Cordia.png

Related Topics

District cooling, recent articles.

district heating tourism

1800 West Park Drive, Suite 350

Westborough, MA 01581 USA

Phone +1 (508) 366-9339

Fax +1 (508) 366-0019

Membership Information

Join Us Mission & Vision Member Benefits Member Directory

district heating tourism

© 2023 International District Energy Association, All Rights Reserved. Site by eConverse Media

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{{ currentsubmenugamenu.numbers.title }}, district heating carries geothermal energy into homes, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption.

Geothermal energy can be very useful for delivering heat to buildings, safeguarding the environment while generating economic benefits. District cooling systems are also becoming increasingly widespread.

Heating in Russia

Russian heating system

My buddy, Fred, was over for a visit and the talk turned to steam. Fred works for Consolidated Edison in New York City. Con Ed provides the electricity and steam for a big part of the Big Apple. “A lot of people say that Con Ed has the largest district heating system in the world,” Fred said, “but I hear there’s a bigger one in Russia."

“I’m pretty sure that’s a district hot water system over there,” I said.

“You sure?”

“One way to find out,” I said and walked into my office here at home. I asked the on the Wall 11:33 AM and got an answer from Jim Sokolovic at 11:37. Jim said that he had co-workers in Russia and that he would ask them. What specifically did I want to know? I told him that I wanted to know if it was steam, hot water or a combination of both. He got back to me at 11:55 with this:

“Dan, The heating plant is a single boiler, usually oil-fired, and they keep it in a garage-type structure. It supplies hot water through a continuous circulation system underground. Cast-iron radiators are in the buildings, which the government owns. There are no thermostats in the buildings, but the rooms never get warm enough, anyway. It’s chilly over there!”

Christian Egli then posted a terrific article that had appeared in the Moscow Times on August 7, 2003. Here’s a bit of that:

“It's summer, and your hot water is turned off again.

“But the shutoff that often bewilders foreigners unfamiliar with the peculiarities of Moscow life might not always be an annual tradition: Engineers say a solution is in sight.

“However, it might take 200 years before your neighborhood has hot water all year round.

“Moscow Heating Network, the subsidiary of Mosenergo in charge of the main pipes that ship steamy-hot water from electric power plants to neighborhood heat-exchange points, sees the city's savior in a new pipe that is resistant to rust -- the main culprit that forces it to turn off hot water for repairs every summer.

“The pipes are protected by a special water- and heat-proof coating that is several centimeters thick and filled with rust-fighting polyurethane foam, said Viktor Tarasov, deputy chief engineer at Moscow Heating Network, or Teploseti. The pipes also are equipped with detectors that alert engineers about the need for small repairs before any major damage occurs.

“All this means that the new pipes can remain in service for 25 to 30 years without any major repairs, thus allowing hot water to be kept on all the time, Tarasov said.

“Just about every neighborhood takes its turn without hot water for three weeks every summer as engineers repair a vast and aging pipeline system that stretches for thousands of kilometers under -- and sometimes over -- the ground.

"The problem is that Moscow's heating and hot-water supply systems have a level of technology dating back to somewhere in the 1930s," Tarasov said in a recent interview.

“In most cases, city dwellers get their heating and hot water through a complicated system in which extra-hot water -- heated up to 130 degrees Celsius in the peak of the winter -- is pumped through the main pipes to the neighborhood heat-exchange points. There, through special heat-exchange equipment, household water is warmed up -- but not mixed with -- the water from the power plants and the cooled-off steam is returned to the plants. Some of the longest main pipes stretch 20 kilometers from the power plants to the neighborhood heat-exchange points, or nearly halfway across the city, Tarasov said.

“This relatively unique heating and hot-water system was adopted primarily due to the city's vast size and the area's cold climate, Tarasov said. "And since electricity is produced anyway, the hot steam is effectively a byproduct that is a free source of heat," he said. "It would have been silly to waste it."

So Fred had his answer, but the “Wallies” weren’t through yet. Cliff Heeney added this:

“Dan, I live in Tallinn, Estonia. Estonia was formerly a part of the USSR, so I believe that the heating systems that we have here are probably basically the same system as in Russia today. We have district heating serving probably half the city, which has 435,000 people. As far as I know the boilers are all fired with oil and only make hot water, which is then piped into the district that that particular plant serves. There is a power-generating plant on the outskirts of the city, which of course utilizes steam to fire the generator. I believe that they then use the steam through a heat exchanger to make hot water for the district heating in that particular area of Tallinn.

“Each building has a meter and pays for the amount of hot water that is used. Some of the apartment buildings that have been renovated have also placed individual meters in each apartment so that the bill can be divided evenly. Without the individual meters, then the apartment owners pay a percentage based upon the size in square meters of their apartment.

“The temperature of the hot water produced by the district heating plants is based upon the outside air temperature. So just imagine a giant sized outdoor reset!

“Sorry that I can't answer your question about Russia right now, though. My wife's favorite aunt lives in Moscow; we'll send her an email tomorrow and see what she can find out for you.”

Isn’t the World Wide Web wonderful? While I waited for Cliff to get back to me, other Wallies chatted away about district heating around the world. Two days later we heard again from Cliff

“My wife, Tuuli, called her favorite aunt, Evi, in Moscow today. Evi and her husband, Sergei, believe that almost all, if not all, of the district heating in Moscow is with water. They have heard of a few older buildings, and some of the new ones being heated with steam, but they don't think that is being done with a district heating system. More than likely the individual building has it's own steam boiler dedicated for the use of that building. They weren't able to verify that though.

“They also believe that most, if not all, district heating in Russia would be with water, not steam. They have traveled somewhat and they have only seen hot water being utilized in district heating set-ups.

“We asked them if they knew of anyone who works in that utility and unfortunately they don't. They are going to ask around, though, and try to find someone who either works in one of the district heating plants, or who has a friend who does. I'll let you know what they find out.

“I was born and raised in Vernal, Utah. I have lived in Estonia for about six years and have been married to my wife, who is an Estonian, for 5-1/2 years. We have two children, our daughter, Nancy, who turned two years old today, and David, who is eight months old.“

Small world isn’t it? Later that day, Eric Petersen wrote, “Central heating is a feature of some housing developments in Finland. A friend of mine bought a new house in the Helsinki area and the whole development is heated by a central system which provides hot water. I remember walking to his house from the bus stop and seeing where they were laying the heating-distribution pipes deep in the ground for a different set of houses. The control mechanism was TRVs but I don't know how they charged for usage. I do know that these types of houses are very well made, insulated, and comfortable all through the winter. Actually winters near Helsinki are not that much colder than Chicago. One other thing, my friend views American housing developments (especially apartment complexes with hot air heating) as somewhat barbaric in that it seems wasteful for everyone have to have a separate heating appliance in their unit. Wasteful and noisy (hot air that is)."

A few hours later, Cliff Heeney was back to say. “Just got off the telephone with our Finnish friends who live in Vantaa, a suburb of Helsinki. Their apartment building is heated by district heating, as most are in Helsinki. They are not charged by how much hot heating water that they use, but rather a flat rate based upon the square meters of their flat. It is built into their monthly maintenance fee. Each apartment or flat is owned by an individual and they all pay a monthly maintenance fee, I think it’s similar to what a condo owner would pay in the USA. No steam is used in their systems."

So, if you looking to learn about heating, or just about life in general, stop by The Wall and ask a question. It's amazing who hangs out there. 

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The utility saving expert guide to district heating.

Homes, businesses and public buildings can get a supply of low-carbon energy by using district heating. Energy efficient and good for the environment, district heating presents a less wasteful source of energy that can deliver heat and power to an entire community.

district heating tourism

Providing a solution to some of the most common problems with the supply of energy, district heating creates a community system by providing a central energy for multiple households or businesses, instead of each household or business premise needing to rely on its own boiler.

As each location is powered by the energy centre, instead of individual boilers, this creates a more eco-friendly system with less waste because it makes better use of heat and power. It’s viewed as an innovative way to provide heat and hot water to multiple properties.

What district heating means

As the name suggests, district heating is a method of supplying heat and hot water to an entire area, or “district” of buildings, from a single system. This means that a community uses a shared supply of energy instead of each relying on different heating systems, so homes and businesses are supplied with heating and hot water on a community basis.

Heating networks are often supplied with excess energy created by industry to make use of otherwise wasted energy, or through renewable sources. Furthermore, by sharing the supply, these properties waste less energy in their own households. Using a central supply removes the scenario where excess hot water is unused and wasted, and involves a single system instead of mutiple boilers heating up in various locations.

Sometimes referred to as teleheating or heat networks, district heating is becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

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The history of district heating

District heating is an innovative technology that comes from Denmark. Through its district heating networks, Denmark supplies energy into six large central networks for major cities and urban regions, plus 400 decentralised zones across the rest of the country.

As one of the world’s most energy-efficient countries, it’s no surprise that around two thirds of Danish households are connected to district heating. In fact, the widespread use of district heating is a major contributing factor to Denmark’s low carbon emissions, which have been decreasing over the past decades.

Denmark’s district heating timeline

  • 1903 – Denmark built its first combined heat and power plant, which was also a sustainable waste management plant.
  • 1920-30s – Denmark developed district heating systems using wasted heat from electricity production.
  • 1970s – Following the oil crisis, there was a rapid expansion of collective district heating systems in Denmark, including vast pipe installation under towns and cities.

However, the idea of collective heating and hot water runs further back in the history books, as early as the Roman Baths. In one form or another, similar systems have existed in:

  • Ancient Rome
  • Medieval Europe
  • The USA in the industrial age
  • Eastern Europe in the Soviet era

District heating in the UK

In the 1950s, the UK built its first district heating network to reduce carbon emissions and operational costs. This was the Pimlico District Heating Undertaking (PDHU), which used waste heat from the old Battersea Power Station that was transported to Pimlico by being pumped under the River Thames.

Within eight years of being connected to the district heating system, Battersea had become one of the world’s most efficient power stations of its time, operating with a thermal efficiency of 25 percent.

The district heating in Pimlico has since transitioned to a new energy centre to heat the water and is still operational today.

Despite this early uptake of district heating, the innovative method of supplying homes and businesses with heating and hot water on a collective basis is still less common in the UK, and currently, less than 5 percent of heating energy in the UK is sourced from low carbon supplies.

However, an investment of £40 million from the UK Government was launched in February 2020, together with an announcement that seven new district heating network projects are planned.

Most effective in an urban landscape, it’s likely that district heating will become more widespread in densely populated cities and may help to tackle fuel poverty in these areas, whilst reducing housing management costs.

The heat networks will be built in London, Leeds, Bristol and Liverpool, supplying clean power to around 30,000 homes, giving residents access to low carbon heating. This is expected to reduce more than 150,000 tonnes of carbon over the course of fifteen years, the equivalent of planting 400,000 trees.

The investment demonstrates that whilst district heating may require up-front costs, it is a forward-thinking approach that will be cost-effective and energy-efficient in the long term.

How district heating works

District heating systems provide a central supply of energy to a network of properties. This means that instead of each household using an individual boiler and pipe network, district heating schemes rely on large, centralised energy centres to supply energy.

Heat networks can vary in size. Some energy centres are extensive, but the size and scale of each centre will depend largely on the network it serves. For a smaller community of homes and businesses, generation and storage plants will be smaller.

The production of energy usually involves sustainable or renewable technologies that provide heat, hot water and power through a district heating and cooling pipe network. Typically, this involves insulated pipes that run underground to deliver hot water.

For heat networks that don’t already use clean energy, introducing reasonably-priced energy sources that use less carbon can be done quitely over time, without requiring roads to be dug up or changes to people’s homes.

Although the source of energy will be supplied to an entire community, each resident will still be able to control the heating, power and hot water in their own home. Rather than setting a boiler, residents who live in a household that is supplied through a district heating network will use a Heat Interface Unit (HIU) to control their energy usage. This is usually monitored by a heat meter or water meter.

Why district heating is energy efficient

By making use of heat that would otherwise be wasted, district heating schemes offer an environmentally-friendly option for household or  business heating , provided you are located in an area that is covered by district heating networks.

Some district heating schemes redistribute excess energy from industrial plants, power plants and public transport systems, whereas others use  renewable energy  schemes.

In terms of renewables, district heating networks are well positioned for tansporting geothermal energy and water, tapping into natural heat supplies. For example, Iceland’s capital city Reykjavík serves more than half of the country with geothermal water, making it the world’s largest municipal geothermal heating service.

District heating also helps solve the problem of storing excess energy created by solar and wind power that needs to be saved for use during periods with less sun and wind. Central energy centres have the capacity for this and invest in technology that can store excess power, which would be difficult for a single household or business to do.

Finally, district energy systems are beneficial simply because of the economy of scale of heating a district with a single system. Each home or business within the community will encounter the cost advantages of the efficient production of low-carbon energy.

Find out if you could make cost savings by comparing and  switching your energy supply  using our free online  energy comparison tool .

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Eavor joins European hub for District Heating and Cooling

  • June 17, 2024

Eavor has recently joined the DHC+ Platform, advancing Next-Generation Geothermal energy within Europe’s district heating and cooling market.

The DHC+ Platform, headquartered in Brussels, serves as Europe’s hub for research and innovation in district heating and cooling. It brings together over 60 stakeholders from academia, research, business, and industry to promote sustainable energy systems. As a leader in innovative geothermal technology, Eavor’s membership holds potential to contribute to the integration of cutting-edge clean energy technology for the continent, fostering local energy autonomy across multiple European countries.

In Geretsried, Germany, Eavor is constructing its first commercial power plant, which will generate direct heat and electricity. To prepare for the distribution of energy to Geretsried’s district heating grid, Eavor GmbH has signed a heat supply contract with the municipal utility company Stadtwerke Geretsried, marking a crucial step toward utilizing geothermal energy in the region.

Eavor’s involvement in these initiatives underscores the growing importance of geothermal energy in the transition to sustainable and climate-friendly energy systems. As changing global temperatures generate a greater demand for clean power, Eavor’s technology is well-positioned to provide those needs. Since geothermal energy can be used to heat and cool businesses and homes, it can act as a viable tool in decarbonizing district heating and cooling systems in Europe and beyond.

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Ryan Martin presents Eavor’s innovations at geothermal conference in Pisa

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How does district heating work?

Environmentally friendly and energy efficient heating supply

Environmentally friendly and energy efficient heating supply

Due to simultaneous production of heat and electricity in combined heat and power plants, district heating is very energy-efficient. By implementing renewable energy sources and utilizing waste heat generated by industry, the environmental gain by district heating is further evident. This kind of energy utilization is beneficial for both environment and society in general.

Compared to individual heating systems, the district heating plants are better at reducing emissions of hazardous compounds since they have more advanced pollution control equipment and through their more controlled conditions when generating heat. Furthermore, district heating is very convenient for consumers - who hardly notice how their radiators and tap water are heated on a daily basis.

District heating enables a green future

District heating enables a green future

District Heating is not only compatible with renewable energy sources of today; With an established district heating network, future energy sources can also be utilized centrally and distributed to consumers through existing district heating pipes.

Add to that supreme efficiency and the ability to utilize waste heat from electricity production and you have a system that is potentially the cornerstone of the future energy supply.

Renewable energy – substituting fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives

Renewable energy – substituting fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives

In pace with increasing environmental concerns, renewables have become a key issue. The flexibility of district heating allows for substitution to environmentally friendly alternatives.

Renewable energy is energy generated by natural resources and includes geothermal energy, biomass, wind energy, water energy, solar energy etc.

It is greenhouse-neutral. This means that it does not increase the concentration of greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2, methane, nitrous oxide and CFC) in the atmosphere.

These alternative renewable energy sources are compatible with district heating either directly or indirectly. Energy sources which are usually utilized in electricity generation such as water and wind energy are rarely used in district heating systems, but the majority of renewables are used to a high degree in district heating.

Power Engineering International

District heating and CHP in Russia: Room for improvement

The IEA has published the final in its series of country profiles for CHP and district heating/cooling ” for Russia. And, while Russia is a major user of CHP in industry, and by far the world’s largest user of district heating, most of these urban systems are in a poor state. Steve Hodgson summarizes the report.

The term cogeneration (also known as combined heat and power or CHP) covers a vast array and size of technologies; from ‘micro-CHP’ units being developed to serve the needs of an individual home, to vast, custom-built plant that serves the energy needs of a large refinery or industrial estate. Add district heating and/or cooling (DHC) ” another range of technologies which may or may not include CHP to supply any one, two or three of heat energy, cooling and power to a town, educational campus or area of a city. CHP and DHC systems use an array of technologies, from gas turbines through engines to heat-only boilers, and a range of fuels which increasingly includes non-fossil fuels ” biofuels, solid municipal waste and industrial or biological ‘waste’ products.

And, as regular readers will already know, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has completed a major project, first to quantify the amount of CHP/DHC in use in countries across the world and, more importantly, to gather examples of good practice policymaking from countries which use plenty of CHP/DHC, in order that other countries can see a way forward to unlocking the considerable benefits of encouraging CHP/DHC growth.

Outputs from the IEA ‘CHP/DHC Collaborative’ include a first report: Combined heat and power: evaluating the benefits of greater global investment, 12 country scorecards and a final report: Cogeneration and district energy ” sustainable energy technologies for today and tomorrow, all available at the IEA Collaborative website: www.iea.org/G8/CHP/chp.asp.

An article in the July-August 2009 issue of COSPP summarized the central part of the final report ” i.e. the types of policy interventions available, and how to put a co-ordinated policy structure together.

But, as the final report was published one ‘country scorecard’ had yet to be published ” an important one, as the country involved, Russia, is one of the largest users of CHP in the world. Furthermore, unusually, it has enormous capacity in both main sectors: CHP systems serving industrial sites, and urban district heating (but not cooling) systems. Indeed, the size of the Russian district heating sector is almost 10 times that of any other country ” yet most of the systems are both aged and decrepit.

This article presents edited extracts from the IEA Collaborative’s country profile for Russia. The publication itself is available from the IEA at: www.iea.org/G8/CHP/chp.asp.

COUNTRY PROFILE – RUSSIA

Russia uses CHP generation extensively; it accounts for about a third of installed electricity generating capacity. In 2007, Russia had more than 700 electricity plants with a total generating capacity of 215 GW. Of this, thermal electricity plants and CHP represented 68% (145 GW) of installed capacity; hydroelectric plants 21% (46 GW); and nuclear 11% (24 GW). Russia has the largest and oldest district heating system in the world. More than 100 years old and comprising almost 500 CHP stations, 200,000 km of district heating pipeline network and more than 65,000 boiler houses, Russia’s municipal district heating systems are a legacy of the Soviet era on which most of the country’s urban population has come to depend on during the long and cold winter season.

Although Russia’s installed capacity of CHP stations is among the largest in the world, there is little reliable data on their efficiency of energy use. There is also a lack of any governmental definition of high efficiency CHP, unlike in other countries such as the UK and in the European Union (EU). Furthermore, low investment and inadequate maintenance in Russia during the 1990s has severely decreased the reliability of heat supply in many systems. Below-cost pricing has also contributed to under-investment and poor maintenance, with an estimated 60% of the Russian network in need of major repair or replacement.

More than half of the 200,000 km network of municipal heat distribution pipelines is estimated to have already passed its technical life expectancy. Some pipeline systems are 40-50 years old ” way beyond their 16-20 year technical life expectancy. About 25%-30% of the system is considered in critical condition. For this reason it is estimated that a minimum of 10%-12% of pipes need to be changed every year. Yet each year only about 1% of pipes are changed across the whole Russian network. Raising the investments needed to replace, repair and maintain this immense network is the key challenge facing Russia’s district heating system.

Another major challenge facing the development of CHP in Russia is the lack of an overall strategy and outlook for the heating sector. A draft law on the heat sector was discussed in the Russian State Duma in 2002 but was not passed into law and has since been neglected. This is especially a problem given the restructuring and privatization of the electricity sector during this time ” which was completed in 2008 ” to which the heat sector is so closely linked. Russian experts also point to the lack of trained and qualified personnel in the sector for day to day operation.

The lack of a long-term strategy for the sector is considered another major hurdle for its sustainable development. Heat tariffs in the residential sector are not cost-reflective. They are kept low for political reasons, given the inability of most of Russia’s residential population to pay higher rates. However, these low rates reduce the sector’s attraction to investors. Furthermore, heat tariffs based on norms, as opposed to actual use, hamper the effectiveness of measures to raise the efficiency of heat use and to reduce residential demand. The continued practice of cross-subsidizing heat tariffs between industry and the residential sector has driven some industries away from large CHP heat sources to decentralized heat boilers or mini-CHP.

THE STATUS OF CHP

In Russia about 30% of heat is produced by CHP plants. Heat-only boilers account for about 45% of total heat produced and decentralized sources (industrial or own-producers) account for the remaining share of heat produced. CHP is an integral part of Russia’s district heating system, providing heat and hot water to most of Russia’s urban population. Although there is a large share of heat produced by CHP in Russia, there is little available data on which to judge how efficient these plants are. Due to growing competition from decentralized sources of heat, many Russian CHP plants are run at only 40%-45% of their capacity.

IEA data from 1990 to 2007 (summarized in Figure 1, above), present the dramatic decrease in heat produced in Russia as a result of the decline in GDP growth over the market transition years of the 1990s. This lower output of heat has continued into this decade. This reflects an increasing use of decentralized heat systems as a more reliable source of heat or as a source of top-up heat when the district heating system does not provide adequate supply. Generation from CHP plants over this time declined by more than 30%. In 2007, total final consumption of heat in Russia fell to 58% of its 1993 level. This was due to a drop in heat consumption by the industrial sector by more than half, from 4117 petajoules in 1993 to 1867 petajoules in 2007. This fall occurred over the 1990s when Russia’s GDP almost halved during its transition to a market economy.

Since 2000, the residential sector has seen its heat consumption drop by 38%. This is largely due to the lack of reliability of the district heating systems and the fact that heat tariffs are calculated on a cost plus basis. As the average cost of the heating system (operating and maintenance costs) increased, more clients found it economic to seek decentralized sources of heat.

Figure 1 also reflects the dominant share of natural gas as an input fuel to produce heat in Russia. CHP plants in the European part of Russia ” where most of Russia’s large urban population centres are located ” are predominantly fuelled by natural gas (82%-83%). In Siberia and the Far East, electricity and CHP plants are predominantly fuelled by coal (81%-86%).

Russian industry is highly energy-intensive. In 2007, the industrial sector accounted for 50% of total electricity demand, a higher share than most other countries. Given its suitability for energy-intensive applications, just over half of Russia’s 500 CHP plants are based within the industrial sector. Together, the iron and steel sector (30%) and the chemical and petrochemical sector (21%) accounted for over half the industrial heat consumption in Russia in 2007 (see Figure 2). A legacy of the central planning of the Soviet system is that many major cities in Russia were centred on a major industry and thus the heat from the CHP could supply heat to the district heating system for the residential sector.

DISTRICT HEATING APPLICATIONS

Russia has the world’s largest collection of district heating systems by far, with heat deliveries of about 1700 TWh in 2007, almost 10 times more than the next largest system, Ukraine (with a level just under 200 TWh) and Poland (just under 100 TWh in 2007). Accurate information on end-use demand of Russia’s district heating system does not exist due the lack of metering.

Over the period from 1998 to 2007, state CHP plants accounted for a declining share of heat produced in Russia, from a level of 35%-31%. About 60% of all heat produced in Russia was consumed in the residential (about 45%) and commercial and public (about 15%) sectors. Just under three-quarters (74%) of heat supplied in Russia is through district heating networks with the other quarter of the heat supplied in Russia by decentralized/individual heat sources. District heating networks supply heat to about 80% of Russian residential buildings and about 63% of the hot water used by the country’s population.

A large potential exists for energy savings in its district heating systems, especially through the reduction of losses from the network and implementation of energy efficiency measures. Given an estimated 20%-30% of heat is lost through the heat distribution network before it reaches the end consumer, focus on reducing these network losses would be an essential first step. Only after this stage is completed would the installation of meters and heat regulating devices to allow for demand-side management be effective.

SMALL COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS

Since the early 2000s there has been increasing momentum in refurbishing existing boiler houses with gas turbines or smaller-scale CHP units (capacity less than 25 MW). Most retrofitting to date used foreign technology. As of March 2007, about 120 of these units were operating across Russia. Bashkirenergo in Bashkortostan and Tatenergo in Tatarstan are the leaders in the use of micro- or smaller-scale CHP in Russia. These units have resulted not only in more efficient use of natural gas as an input fuel but also to lower emissions and a smaller impact on the environment.

This trend towards the increasing use of smaller-scale, gas-fired CHP in Russia seems positive as efficiencies are likely to be over 80%. It is this level of efficiency that should be sought throughout its installed CHP capacity.

There has been limited government involvement in the development of CHP in Russia. A legacy of its Soviet past, CHP was an integral part of central planning and the vast district heating network built to meet the heating and hot water needs of the Soviet people. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union and over the 1990s, lack of investment and government policy direction resulted in its deterioration.

BARRIERS TO CHP

Barriers to the future development of CHP in Russia are linked to the lack of focus by the federal government on the many challenges facing Russia’s heat sector itself. These include the need for:

  • refurbishment of the ageing district heat supply network to reduce system losses and enhance reliability
  • heat tariffs to cover the full cost of supply
  • the promotion by government of high efficiency industrial CHP
  • a coordinated and long-term strategy and policy outlook for the heat sector.

CHP POTENTIAL AND BENEFITS

Russia has the largest heat network in the world, a legacy of its Soviet past. Were it to use this to its advantage, through a long-term policy outlook to refurbish and maintain, effectively cost and price the heat and allow end-users to regulate and reduce their consumption through regulators and monitors, its heat sector could flourish with all the related benefits this would bring in terms of energy savings, reduced impact on the environment, heightened energy security and comfort and quality of life of Russia’s population.

Russia consumes the equivalent of about 150 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas a year in its district heating system. Raising the efficiency of its CHP plants and reducing the losses along its district heating network could save about 20%-30% or 30-50 bcm a year. In 2004, an IEA Study: Coming in From the Cold estimated that with a stronger policy framework, district heating system in transition economies could save in generation alone the equivalent of 80 bcm of natural gas a year ” roughly the annual gas consumption in Germany. Raising heat tariffs and providing consumers a way to regulate their heat intake would generate additional savings, although difficult to quantify given the lack of meters and statistics on end-use heat demand in the residential sector.

Moscow heat supply system

Heat in Moscow is produced by 15 large CHP plants, 70 district and local heating plants (DHPs and LHPs), and 100 local boilers (LBs).Table 1, below, shows their capacity and production.

The primary heat/hot water network includes almost 2300 km of pipes with an average diameter of 570 mm, and 21 booster pump stations. Inside city sub-districts, Mosgorteplo operates over 4600 sub-stations and Mosteploenergoover 1200. From the sub-stations, secondary networks transfer heating and domestic hot water to buildings. The secondary networks include some 4400 km operated by Mosgorteplo and about 1245 km operated by Mosteploenergo. Equipment inside apartment houses includes a connection point in the basement; valves, filters, thermometers and manometers; pipes for heat and domestic hot water distribution; and radiators and/or convectors in individual apartments.

Individual apartments generally have no meters, although the installation of building meters is beginning. Mosgorteplo recently completed installing meters in all the sub-stations it manages.

Steve Hodgson is the editor of COSPP Email: [email protected]

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Russia, annual heat deliveries to end-use sectors through district heating networks, 2000-2021

Last updated 19 Sep 2022

IEA (2022), Russia, annual heat deliveries to end-use sectors through district heating networks, 2000-2021 , IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/russia-annual-heat-deliveries-to-end-use-sectors-through-district-heating-networks-2000-2021, Licence: CC BY 4.0

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Local News | One candidate was fired. Another has multiple arrests. Orlando’s District 5 race heats up.

Shan rose and travaris mccurdy are locked in a tight race as the june 18 election approaches.

Travaris McCurdy, left, and Shaniqua "Shan" Rose, right, clinched spots in a runoff election to the interim District 5 City Commissioner in Orlando.

With the contest winnowed to Shaniqua “Shan” Rose and Travaris McCurdy, questions have surfaced surrounding Rose’s forced exit from a job at Orlando City Hall, along with others about McCurdy’s arrest history, which were highlighted in a mailer sent by a secretive group that may flout state election laws.

Ultimately voters will decide between the two in the coming weeks, with early voting starting Monday and Election Day on June 18.

The winner will take office soon after, representing a downtown and west Orlando district until the end of the term first won by suspended commissioner Regina Hill in 2025 or departing sooner if criminal charges against her are settled in her favor.

The initial seven-way race last month ended with Rose and McCurdy edging out the field for a spot in the runoff. Rose led the way with 24.8% of the vote, or 527 ballots, with McCurdy in 2nd with 23.3% or 495 ballots.

Since then, the two have come under further scrutiny.

Secretive ad targets McCurdy’s arrest record

An incendiary advertisement has circulated to voters throughout the district by mail, email and hand delivered by canvassers with a photo of McCurdy, along with his history of arrest for various offenses ranging from carrying a concealed weapon to petit theft and speeding.

What the advertisement doesn’t say — but a review of public available records and a statement from McCurdy indicate — is that he has no felony convictions for any of those crimes. The ad does say that McCurdy was once charged with “carrying a concealed weapon as a convicted felon,” an allegation that shows up in at least one online database, but the Orange County Clerk of Courts has no record of it.

“I am not a convicted felon. I made mistakes as a young and impressionable man many years ago, but I was never convicted of a felony,” McCurdy’s statement reads. “I have learned from my past and worked hard to get where I am today.”

The ad is credited to “Friends of District 5,” which isn’t registered with the Division of Corporations, the Orange County Supervisor of Elections or the Florida Division of Elections. It’s unclear who created it – a message to an email address associated with the group wasn’t acknowledged. Rose says her campaign has no connection to the ad.

Glenn Burhans, a Tallahassee-based elections attorney unaffiliated with the campaign, said under state law a group like this one doesn’t have to register until it makes an expenditure of at least $5,000. However, the advertisement doesn’t include an address for the organization responsible, so it doesn’t meet the state’s rules in that regard.

“The non-compliant disclaimer, the fact that the entity is not registered, raises some concerns,” he said. “But it’s possible they haven’t hit the registration threshold, so there may be no violation (of that rule). We simply don’t have enough information to know.”

One side of the ad lists various charges filed against McCurdy, dating back to the early 2000s – in recent years he’s only been hit with traffic and toll infractions – contending that his history runs afoul of his goals of reducing crime in the district.

The backside of the document dinged McCurdy for his “F- grade” from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. A failing grade from that group is often a point of pride for Democratic state legislators, which McCurdy previously was.

“Sadly, anonymous bad actors have launched illegal attacks against my campaign for City Commission,” he wrote on Facebook. “Why? Because they’re scared of our movement for safer streets, more affordable housing, and real solutions to Orlando’s greatest challenges.”

Rose was fired from her city job

Rose, whose experience at City Hall is a tenet of her campaign, was fired from her job as an administrative specialist in 2019 after her supervisors said she repeatedly sent misleading emails to city leaders and partners “in an authoritative manner” that should have been coming from her bosses. Rose had been instructed to stop doing so but persisted, records show.

Her termination was first reported by WKMG.

In an interview, Rose said she sent emails to various city departments trying to help the Parramore neighborhood and to cut through red tape.

City investigators said they also discovered false information on her resume about a prior job at a business called Brands and Roses Services “and that the false information provided is what had qualified you for your position.”  Asked about the statement, Rose said “they wanted to find any reason to fire me.”

She filed a pair of grievances against the city through the SEIU union representing her, both of which were denied, records show, and pursued arbitration.

As part of a separation agreement with the city, Rose agreed to no longer pursue arbitration and to drop a discrimination charge against the city she filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission nine months prior to her termination. As part of the deal she was paid $18,326, or 120 days at her regular pay.

“Know that I fought while I was at the city…and I’ll fight as the next district commissioner,” she said in an interview.

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Amsterdam’s new tourism campaign is ready to ruffle some feathers

Mar 30, 2023 • 7 min read

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When visiting Amsterdam, consider greener, more socially responsible activities than wild nights in the Red Light District © Lana Iva / Shutterstock

If you’re a young British male planning a trip to Amsterdam  to “go wild,” consider yourself on notice.

As “overtourism” threatens to overwhelm the city, the Dutch capital is actively telling certain travelers not to visit via what city officials are dubbing a (rather blunt) “discouragement campaign.”

The campaign specifically targets British men aged between 18 and 35 who plan to travel to the city to drink and take drugs.

When British tourists search online for terms including "stag party Amsterdam" "pub crawl Amsterdam" or something as innocuous as "cheap hotel Amsterdam" they'll soon be greeted with a video advertisement warning them of the consequences of consuming too much alcohol or drugs or causing trouble in the city through antisocial behavior.

“Nuisance tourists” no longer welcome

"The aim of the discouragement campaign is to keep out visitors that we do not want. If we love the city, we must take action now," says deputy mayor Sofyan Mbarki in a statement. "In recent months, I have talked to many different groups: residents, businesses, experts and interest groups. From these discussions, it has become clear that… intervention is needed."

Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations for British stag (bachelor) parties thanks to its proximity to the UK and, of course, the legalization of cannabis and brothels. These trips generally include all-night drink and drug benders and sometimes antisocial behavior, which causes a strain on daily life for residents.

While the "Stay Away" campaign is targeted at just British male tourists for now, authorities say it may be expanded later in the year to include visitors behaving badly from elsewhere in the Netherlands and other EU countries. 

Crowds along Damrak in central Amsterdam, Netherlands

From tolerate to regulate

Amsterdam hailed as a highly tolerant, liberal city, has become increasingly regulated over recent years, especially in De Wallen, better known as the Red Light District. In 2008, the number of prostitution windows was cut from 482 to 243; 100 more will soon be moved to a multi-story "erotic center" on Amsterdam's outskirts.

Critics, such as sex-worker advocate Justine le Clercq, accuse the city council of becoming increasingly conservative. "If you really want more safety for the [sex work] industry, you provide several small locations and more opportunities to work from home, just like other freelancers are allowed to do," she says.

Yet authorities say no moral judgment is involved in curbing disproportionate numbers of “men aged 18 to 35 that only come to party and use our city as a backdrop,” says city spokeswoman Carina Noordervliet.

“The streets in [Amsterdam's city center] are very small and therefore much [more] crowded than, for example, the wide public spaces in Paris, London or Berlin," she continues. "The discouragement campaign [is] targeted at a group of people who in general don't contribute to the city in a positive way.”

Crowds of tourists walk at night along the canal in the Red Light District, Amsterdam, Netherlands

New measures on “feestbeest” and cannabis 

More comprehensive measures on feestbeest ("party animals" in Dutch) – pub crawls, stag parties, stagettes and so on – will prevent raucous conduct in busy inner areas like Rembrandtplein , Leidseplein and particularly the Red Light District. Further measures – such as reducing the number of Airbnb rentals, hotels and river cruises – aim to dial down tourism overall, bringing annual overnight stays from 18 million to below 10 million.

Amsterdam is also increasing measures to discourage the sale of alcohol. Already, you can't buy alcohol after 4pm between Thursday and Sunday – and the city now requires that alcohol be hidden from view or removed from stores during these hours.

In February, the city council announced it would ban people from smoking marijuana on the streets in the Red Light District  from mid-May. This is in response to complaints from residents about disruptive tourists who flood the district in the late hours and engage in antisocial behavior.

"Residents of the old town suffer a lot from mass tourism and alcohol and drug abuse in the streets," the council said in a statement. "Tourists can also attract street dealers who in turn cause crime and insecurity."

The crowded beer hall filled with drinkers during the day at Pillek Cafe, NDSM wharf, Noord, Amsterdam, Netherlands

There's still plenty of fun to be had in Amsterdam. If you're going to experience the city for its dynamic culture (in both daytime and nighttime), historic architecture, forward-thinking gastronomy and pristine natural spaces, here are some tips for having a fantastic time in the Dutch capital – while being respectful of local life.

Venture outside the city center 

Amsterdam's canals offer just one perspective on a fabulously diverse urban landscape that Noordervliet, the city spokeswoman, says many visitors don't fully explore. It's true that just a short tram ride or cycling adventure away from downtown , sprawling greenery abounds in the city's wonderful parks . Explore divine lakes and meadows around the Bos forest. At Sloterpark and Westerpark , you'll find plenty of space to picnic and even go swimming.

You can also take the five-minute ferry from Centraal Station to Noord , Amsterdam's ultra-cool, up-and-coming warehouse district. Enjoy the seaside breeze while discovering street art and popping into industrial haunts like NDSM-Werf , an 84,000 sq m former shipyard hosting art galleries and restaurants.

Stay and travel green

Amsterdam is one of the world's leading cities for smart mobility. Traverse the canals aboard a kayak, pedal boat or electric craft. Many tour operators, including Those Dam Boat Guys , offer zero-emission canal tours.

Afterward, retire to a hotel with a clear green focus. The brothel-turned-boutique hostel Cocomama and local hotel chain Conscious offer organic meals, eco-friendly design and upkeep using sustainable methods and supplies. 

Pink Japanese cherry blossom trees in bloom at Amsterdamse Bos, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Support Amsterdam's "circular city" goals

A few years ago, Amsterdam announced it wanted to become the world's first " circular city ," aiming for a waste-free (or "circular") economy by 2050 using sustainable and renewable raw materials. As a visitor, you can support this by shopping locally and sustainably at vintage boutiques along the  Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets), patronizing ecologically focused designers like Mercer and Property Of , and (especially) dining at eco-conscious restaurants like  De Ceuvel , Foccaceria and Gartine . 

Seek out socially responsible initiatives

Set out for a tour or activity that enriches local life. The world's first sustainable-fashion museum, Fashion for Good , explores fast fashion's alarming impact. A percentage of ticket sales goes toward a same-named nonprofit that helps local designers become more sustainable.

With  Plastic Whale , you can directly help clean up polluted waterways by "plastic fishing" from boats made of retrieved and recycled plastic waste. Or learn about the city's lesser-known stories and social issues via Tours That Matter , which offers guided walks along such themes as colonialism and gentrification. 

A male couple holds hands on a walk around the canals of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Meet the locals 

You can really get to know the city on a walking tour that brings diverse Amsterdam voices to the fore. Mee in Mokum tours are led by volunteers of all ages (often, feisty grannies). Meanwhile, Rederij Lampedusa offers canal-boat tours in former refugee boats led by those who arrived during the refugee crisis.

See the Red Light District in a new light…

Scout out socially responsible initiatives in the Red Light District, such as the Condomerie , a boutique condom shop run by a safe-sex and HIV/AIDS-prevention foundation, or visit the sex-worker collective My Red Light's mini-museum about De Wallen history. Grab a pint at the De Prael craft brewery , which employs ex-prisoners and those with a history of mental illness. Or time your visit with events such as the Red Light Jazz Festival , which highlights a different side of De Wallen's culture.

…or go for a pub crawl in a different neighborhood

Amsterdam was the first city to appoint a nachtburgemeester (night mayor) to ensure that nightlife thrives even despite overcrowding. Several eclectic and lively after-dark establishments have popped up in recent years showcasing the vibrance and diversity that Amsterdam has to offer. In a revamped Noord warehouse,  Sexyland World  is an artists' hub bringing together 365 businesses and organizations that hosts everything from roller-disco nights to poetry slams. At Amsterdam Roest , you can relax at an industrial shipyard–turned–beach bar, or join thousands of other ravers enjoying the beats at Warehouse Elementenstraat .

"There's a much bigger picture of nightlife in Amsterdam than the Red Light District and other places to feel the pulse of the city," says current nightlife mayor Ramon de Lima. "Instead of closing down clubs, the creative community and municipality are finding solutions…[showing] our culture of not ignoring problems but trying to solve them together."

Respect the rules

Don't forget that illegal acts are punishable by fine and enforced by patrolling officers. Smoking cannabis is not allowed on city-center streets, nor is lighting up tobacco indoors. Photographing sex workers is highly disrespectful, not to mention illegal. If you use common sense, your visit to Amsterdam is sure to be, as the Dutch say, lekker gezellig .

Which loosely translates to "absolutely freaking awesome."

This article was first published Mar 6, 2023 and updated Mar 30, 2023.

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ChatGPT: Everything you need to know about the AI-powered chatbot

ChatGPT welcome screen

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm since its launch in November 2022. What started as a tool to hyper-charge productivity through writing essays and code with short text prompts has evolved into a behemoth used by more than 92% of Fortune 500 companies .

That growth has propelled OpenAI itself into becoming one of the most-hyped companies in recent memory. And its latest partnership with Apple for its upcoming generative AI offering, Apple Intelligence, has given the company another significant bump in the AI race.

2024 also saw the release of GPT-4o, OpenAI’s new flagship omni model for ChatGPT. GPT-4o is now the default free model, complete with voice and vision capabilities. But after demoing GPT-4o, OpenAI paused one of its voices , Sky, after allegations that it was mimicking Scarlett Johansson’s voice in “Her.”

OpenAI is facing internal drama, including the sizable exit of co-founder and longtime chief scientist Ilya Sutskever as the company dissolved its Superalignment team. OpenAI is also facing a lawsuit from Alden Global Capital-owned newspapers , including the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune, for alleged copyright infringement, following a similar suit filed by The New York Times last year.

Here’s a timeline of ChatGPT product updates and releases, starting with the latest, which we’ve been updating throughout the year. And if you have any other questions, check out our ChatGPT FAQ here.

Timeline of the most recent ChatGPT updates

February 2024, january 2024.

  • ChatGPT FAQs

Apple brings ChatGPT to its apps, including Siri

Apple announced at WWDC 2024 that it is bringing ChatGPT to Siri and other first-party apps and capabilities across its operating systems. The ChatGPT integrations, powered by GPT-4o, will arrive on iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia later this year, and will be free without the need to create a ChatGPT or OpenAI account. Features exclusive to paying ChatGPT users will also be available through Apple devices .

Apple is bringing ChatGPT to Siri and other first-party apps and capabilities across its operating systems #WWDC24 Read more: https://t.co/0NJipSNJoS pic.twitter.com/EjQdPBuyy4 — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 10, 2024

House Oversight subcommittee invites Scarlett Johansson to testify about ‘Sky’ controversy

Scarlett Johansson has been invited to testify about the controversy surrounding OpenAI’s Sky voice at a hearing for the House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation. In a letter, Rep. Nancy Mace said Johansson’s testimony could “provide a platform” for concerns around deepfakes.

ChatGPT experiences two outages in a single day

ChatGPT was down twice in one day: one multi-hour outage in the early hours of the morning Tuesday and another outage later in the day that is still ongoing. Anthropic’s Claude and Perplexity also experienced some issues.

You're not alone, ChatGPT is down once again. pic.twitter.com/Ydk2vNOOK6 — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 4, 2024

The Atlantic and Vox Media ink content deals with OpenAI

The Atlantic and Vox Media have announced licensing and product partnerships with OpenAI . Both agreements allow OpenAI to use the publishers’ current content to generate responses in ChatGPT, which will feature citations to relevant articles. Vox Media says it will use OpenAI’s technology to build “audience-facing and internal applications,” while The Atlantic will build a new experimental product called Atlantic Labs .

I am delighted that @theatlantic now has a strategic content & product partnership with @openai . Our stories will be discoverable in their new products and we'll be working with them to figure out new ways that AI can help serious, independent media : https://t.co/nfSVXW9KpB — nxthompson (@nxthompson) May 29, 2024

OpenAI signs 100K PwC workers to ChatGPT’s enterprise tier

OpenAI announced a new deal with management consulting giant PwC . The company will become OpenAI’s biggest customer to date, covering 100,000 users, and will become OpenAI’s first partner for selling its enterprise offerings to other businesses.

OpenAI says it is training its GPT-4 successor

OpenAI announced in a blog post that it has recently begun training its next flagship model to succeed GPT-4. The news came in an announcement of its new safety and security committee, which is responsible for informing safety and security decisions across OpenAI’s products.

Former OpenAI director claims the board found out about ChatGPT on Twitter

On the The TED AI Show podcast, former OpenAI board member Helen Toner revealed that the board did not know about ChatGPT until its launch in November 2022. Toner also said that Sam Altman gave the board inaccurate information about the safety processes the company had in place and that he didn’t disclose his involvement in the OpenAI Startup Fund.

Sharing this, recorded a few weeks ago. Most of the episode is about AI policy more broadly, but this was my first longform interview since the OpenAI investigation closed, so we also talked a bit about November. Thanks to @bilawalsidhu for a fun conversation! https://t.co/h0PtK06T0K — Helen Toner (@hlntnr) May 28, 2024

ChatGPT’s mobile app revenue saw biggest spike yet following GPT-4o launch

The launch of GPT-4o has driven the company’s biggest-ever spike in revenue on mobile , despite the model being freely available on the web. Mobile users are being pushed to upgrade to its $19.99 monthly subscription, ChatGPT Plus, if they want to experiment with OpenAI’s most recent launch.

OpenAI to remove ChatGPT’s Scarlett Johansson-like voice

After demoing its new GPT-4o model last week, OpenAI announced it is pausing one of its voices , Sky, after users found that it sounded similar to Scarlett Johansson in “Her.”

OpenAI explained in a blog post that Sky’s voice is “not an imitation” of the actress and that AI voices should not intentionally mimic the voice of a celebrity. The blog post went on to explain how the company chose its voices: Breeze, Cove, Ember, Juniper and Sky.

We’ve heard questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, especially Sky. We are working to pause the use of Sky while we address them. Read more about how we chose these voices: https://t.co/R8wwZjU36L — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 20, 2024

ChatGPT lets you add files from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive

OpenAI announced new updates for easier data analysis within ChatGPT . Users can now upload files directly from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, interact with tables and charts, and export customized charts for presentations. The company says these improvements will be added to GPT-4o in the coming weeks.

We're rolling out interactive tables and charts along with the ability to add files directly from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive into ChatGPT. Available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users over the coming weeks. https://t.co/Fu2bgMChXt pic.twitter.com/M9AHLx5BKr — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 16, 2024

OpenAI inks deal to train AI on Reddit data

OpenAI announced a partnership with Reddit that will give the company access to “real-time, structured and unique content” from the social network. Content from Reddit will be incorporated into ChatGPT, and the companies will work together to bring new AI-powered features to Reddit users and moderators.

We’re partnering with Reddit to bring its content to ChatGPT and new products: https://t.co/xHgBZ8ptOE — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 16, 2024

OpenAI debuts GPT-4o “omni” model now powering ChatGPT

OpenAI’s spring update event saw the reveal of its new omni model, GPT-4o, which has a black hole-like interface , as well as voice and vision capabilities that feel eerily like something out of “Her.” GPT-4o is set to roll out “iteratively” across its developer and consumer-facing products over the next few weeks.

OpenAI demos real-time language translation with its latest GPT-4o model. pic.twitter.com/pXtHQ9mKGc — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) May 13, 2024

OpenAI to build a tool that lets content creators opt out of AI training

The company announced it’s building a tool, Media Manager, that will allow creators to better control how their content is being used to train generative AI models — and give them an option to opt out. The goal is to have the new tool in place and ready to use by 2025.

OpenAI explores allowing AI porn

In a new peek behind the curtain of its AI’s secret instructions , OpenAI also released a new NSFW policy . Though it’s intended to start a conversation about how it might allow explicit images and text in its AI products, it raises questions about whether OpenAI — or any generative AI vendor — can be trusted to handle sensitive content ethically.

OpenAI and Stack Overflow announce partnership

In a new partnership, OpenAI will get access to developer platform Stack Overflow’s API and will get feedback from developers to improve the performance of their AI models. In return, OpenAI will include attributions to Stack Overflow in ChatGPT. However, the deal was not favorable to some Stack Overflow users — leading to some sabotaging their answer in protest .

U.S. newspapers file copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft

Alden Global Capital-owned newspapers, including the New York Daily News, the Chicago Tribune, and the Denver Post, are suing OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. The lawsuit alleges that the companies stole millions of copyrighted articles “without permission and without payment” to bolster ChatGPT and Copilot.

OpenAI inks content licensing deal with Financial Times

OpenAI has partnered with another news publisher in Europe, London’s Financial Times , that the company will be paying for content access. “Through the partnership, ChatGPT users will be able to see select attributed summaries, quotes and rich links to FT journalism in response to relevant queries,” the FT wrote in a press release.

OpenAI opens Tokyo hub, adds GPT-4 model optimized for Japanese

OpenAI is opening a new office in Tokyo and has plans for a GPT-4 model optimized specifically for the Japanese language. The move underscores how OpenAI will likely need to localize its technology to different languages as it expands.

Sam Altman pitches ChatGPT Enterprise to Fortune 500 companies

According to Reuters, OpenAI’s Sam Altman hosted hundreds of executives from Fortune 500 companies across several cities in April, pitching versions of its AI services intended for corporate use.

OpenAI releases “more direct, less verbose” version of GPT-4 Turbo

Premium ChatGPT users — customers paying for ChatGPT Plus, Team or Enterprise — can now use an updated and enhanced version of GPT-4 Turbo . The new model brings with it improvements in writing, math, logical reasoning and coding, OpenAI claims, as well as a more up-to-date knowledge base.

Our new GPT-4 Turbo is now available to paid ChatGPT users. We’ve improved capabilities in writing, math, logical reasoning, and coding. Source: https://t.co/fjoXDCOnPr pic.twitter.com/I4fg4aDq1T — OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 12, 2024

ChatGPT no longer requires an account — but there’s a catch

You can now use ChatGPT without signing up for an account , but it won’t be quite the same experience. You won’t be able to save or share chats, use custom instructions, or other features associated with a persistent account. This version of ChatGPT will have “slightly more restrictive content policies,” according to OpenAI. When TechCrunch asked for more details, however, the response was unclear:

“The signed out experience will benefit from the existing safety mitigations that are already built into the model, such as refusing to generate harmful content. In addition to these existing mitigations, we are also implementing additional safeguards specifically designed to address other forms of content that may be inappropriate for a signed out experience,” a spokesperson said.

OpenAI’s chatbot store is filling up with spam

TechCrunch found that the OpenAI’s GPT Store is flooded with bizarre, potentially copyright-infringing GPTs . A cursory search pulls up GPTs that claim to generate art in the style of Disney and Marvel properties, but serve as little more than funnels to third-party paid services and advertise themselves as being able to bypass AI content detection tools.

The New York Times responds to OpenAI’s claims that it “hacked” ChatGPT for its copyright lawsuit

In a court filing opposing OpenAI’s motion to dismiss The New York Times’ lawsuit alleging copyright infringement, the newspaper asserted that “OpenAI’s attention-grabbing claim that The Times ‘hacked’ its products is as irrelevant as it is false.” The New York Times also claimed that some users of ChatGPT used the tool to bypass its paywalls.

OpenAI VP doesn’t say whether artists should be paid for training data

At a SXSW 2024 panel, Peter Deng, OpenAI’s VP of consumer product dodged a question on whether artists whose work was used to train generative AI models should be compensated . While OpenAI lets artists “opt out” of and remove their work from the datasets that the company uses to train its image-generating models, some artists have described the tool as onerous.

A new report estimates that ChatGPT uses more than half a million kilowatt-hours of electricity per day

ChatGPT’s environmental impact appears to be massive. According to a report from The New Yorker , ChatGPT uses an estimated 17,000 times the amount of electricity than the average U.S. household to respond to roughly 200 million requests each day.

ChatGPT can now read its answers aloud

OpenAI released a new Read Aloud feature for the web version of ChatGPT as well as the iOS and Android apps. The feature allows ChatGPT to read its responses to queries in one of five voice options and can speak 37 languages, according to the company. Read aloud is available on both GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 models.

ChatGPT can now read responses to you. On iOS or Android, tap and hold the message and then tap “Read Aloud”. We’ve also started rolling on web – click the "Read Aloud" button below the message. pic.twitter.com/KevIkgAFbG — OpenAI (@OpenAI) March 4, 2024

OpenAI partners with Dublin City Council to use GPT-4 for tourism

As part of a new partnership with OpenAI, the Dublin City Council will use GPT-4 to craft personalized itineraries for travelers, including recommendations of unique and cultural destinations, in an effort to support tourism across Europe.

A law firm used ChatGPT to justify a six-figure bill for legal services

New York-based law firm Cuddy Law was criticized by a judge for using ChatGPT to calculate their hourly billing rate . The firm submitted a $113,500 bill to the court, which was then halved by District Judge Paul Engelmayer, who called the figure “well above” reasonable demands.

ChatGPT experienced a bizarre bug for several hours

ChatGPT users found that ChatGPT was giving nonsensical answers for several hours , prompting OpenAI to investigate the issue. Incidents varied from repetitive phrases to confusing and incorrect answers to queries. The issue was resolved by OpenAI the following morning.

Match Group announced deal with OpenAI with a press release co-written by ChatGPT

The dating app giant home to Tinder, Match and OkCupid announced an enterprise agreement with OpenAI in an enthusiastic press release written with the help of ChatGPT . The AI tech will be used to help employees with work-related tasks and come as part of Match’s $20 million-plus bet on AI in 2024.

ChatGPT will now remember — and forget — things you tell it to

As part of a test, OpenAI began rolling out new “memory” controls for a small portion of ChatGPT free and paid users, with a broader rollout to follow. The controls let you tell ChatGPT explicitly to remember something, see what it remembers or turn off its memory altogether. Note that deleting a chat from chat history won’t erase ChatGPT’s or a custom GPT’s memories — you must delete the memory itself.

We’re testing ChatGPT's ability to remember things you discuss to make future chats more helpful. This feature is being rolled out to a small portion of Free and Plus users, and it's easy to turn on or off. https://t.co/1Tv355oa7V pic.twitter.com/BsFinBSTbs — OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 13, 2024

OpenAI begins rolling out “Temporary Chat” feature

Initially limited to a small subset of free and subscription users, Temporary Chat lets you have a dialogue with a blank slate. With Temporary Chat, ChatGPT won’t be aware of previous conversations or access memories but will follow custom instructions if they’re enabled.

But, OpenAI says it may keep a copy of Temporary Chat conversations for up to 30 days for “safety reasons.”

Use temporary chat for conversations in which you don’t want to use memory or appear in history. pic.twitter.com/H1U82zoXyC — OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 13, 2024

ChatGPT users can now invoke GPTs directly in chats

Paid users of ChatGPT can now bring GPTs into a conversation by typing “@” and selecting a GPT from the list. The chosen GPT will have an understanding of the full conversation, and different GPTs can be “tagged in” for different use cases and needs.

You can now bring GPTs into any conversation in ChatGPT – simply type @ and select the GPT. This allows you to add relevant GPTs with the full context of the conversation. pic.twitter.com/Pjn5uIy9NF — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 30, 2024

ChatGPT is reportedly leaking usernames and passwords from users’ private conversations

Screenshots provided to Ars Technica found that ChatGPT is potentially leaking unpublished research papers, login credentials and private information from its users. An OpenAI representative told Ars Technica that the company was investigating the report.

ChatGPT is violating Europe’s privacy laws, Italian DPA tells OpenAI

OpenAI has been told it’s suspected of violating European Union privacy , following a multi-month investigation of ChatGPT by Italy’s data protection authority. Details of the draft findings haven’t been disclosed, but in a response, OpenAI said: “We want our AI to learn about the world, not about private individuals.”

OpenAI partners with Common Sense Media to collaborate on AI guidelines

In an effort to win the trust of parents and policymakers, OpenAI announced it’s partnering with Common Sense Media to collaborate on AI guidelines and education materials for parents, educators and young adults. The organization works to identify and minimize tech harms to young people and previously flagged ChatGPT as lacking in transparency and privacy .

OpenAI responds to Congressional Black Caucus about lack of diversity on its board

After a letter from the Congressional Black Caucus questioned the lack of diversity in OpenAI’s board, the company responded . The response, signed by CEO Sam Altman and Chairman of the Board Bret Taylor, said building a complete and diverse board was one of the company’s top priorities and that it was working with an executive search firm to assist it in finding talent. 

OpenAI drops prices and fixes ‘lazy’ GPT-4 that refused to work

In a blog post , OpenAI announced price drops for GPT-3.5’s API, with input prices dropping to 50% and output by 25%, to $0.0005 per thousand tokens in, and $0.0015 per thousand tokens out. GPT-4 Turbo also got a new preview model for API use, which includes an interesting fix that aims to reduce “laziness” that users have experienced.

Expanding the platform for @OpenAIDevs : new generation of embedding models, updated GPT-4 Turbo, and lower pricing on GPT-3.5 Turbo. https://t.co/7wzCLwB1ax — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 25, 2024

OpenAI bans developer of a bot impersonating a presidential candidate

OpenAI has suspended AI startup Delphi, which developed a bot impersonating Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) to help bolster his presidential campaign. The ban comes just weeks after OpenAI published a plan to combat election misinformation, which listed “chatbots impersonating candidates” as against its policy.

OpenAI announces partnership with Arizona State University

Beginning in February, Arizona State University will have full access to ChatGPT’s Enterprise tier , which the university plans to use to build a personalized AI tutor, develop AI avatars, bolster their prompt engineering course and more. It marks OpenAI’s first partnership with a higher education institution.

Winner of a literary prize reveals around 5% her novel was written by ChatGPT

After receiving the prestigious Akutagawa Prize for her novel The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy, author Rie Kudan admitted that around 5% of the book quoted ChatGPT-generated sentences “verbatim.” Interestingly enough, the novel revolves around a futuristic world with a pervasive presence of AI.

Sam Altman teases video capabilities for ChatGPT and the release of GPT-5

In a conversation with Bill Gates on the Unconfuse Me podcast, Sam Altman confirmed an upcoming release of GPT-5 that will be “fully multimodal with speech, image, code, and video support.” Altman said users can expect to see GPT-5 drop sometime in 2024.

OpenAI announces team to build ‘crowdsourced’ governance ideas into its models

OpenAI is forming a Collective Alignment team of researchers and engineers to create a system for collecting and “encoding” public input on its models’ behaviors into OpenAI products and services. This comes as a part of OpenAI’s public program to award grants to fund experiments in setting up a “democratic process” for determining the rules AI systems follow.

OpenAI unveils plan to combat election misinformation

In a blog post, OpenAI announced users will not be allowed to build applications for political campaigning and lobbying until the company works out how effective their tools are for “personalized persuasion.”

Users will also be banned from creating chatbots that impersonate candidates or government institutions, and from using OpenAI tools to misrepresent the voting process or otherwise discourage voting.

The company is also testing out a tool that detects DALL-E generated images and will incorporate access to real-time news, with attribution, in ChatGPT.

Snapshot of how we’re preparing for 2024’s worldwide elections: • Working to prevent abuse, including misleading deepfakes • Providing transparency on AI-generated content • Improving access to authoritative voting information https://t.co/qsysYy5l0L — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 15, 2024

OpenAI changes policy to allow military applications

In an unannounced update to its usage policy , OpenAI removed language previously prohibiting the use of its products for the purposes of “military and warfare.” In an additional statement, OpenAI confirmed that the language was changed in order to accommodate military customers and projects that do not violate their ban on efforts to use their tools to “harm people, develop weapons, for communications surveillance, or to injure others or destroy property.”

ChatGPT subscription aimed at small teams debuts

Aptly called ChatGPT Team , the new plan provides a dedicated workspace for teams of up to 149 people using ChatGPT as well as admin tools for team management. In addition to gaining access to GPT-4, GPT-4 with Vision and DALL-E3, ChatGPT Team lets teams build and share GPTs for their business needs.

OpenAI’s GPT store officially launches

After some back and forth over the last few months, OpenAI’s GPT Store is finally here . The feature lives in a new tab in the ChatGPT web client, and includes a range of GPTs developed both by OpenAI’s partners and the wider dev community.

To access the GPT Store, users must be subscribed to one of OpenAI’s premium ChatGPT plans — ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Enterprise or the newly launched ChatGPT Team.

the GPT store is live! https://t.co/AKg1mjlvo2 fun speculation last night about which GPTs will be doing the best by the end of today. — Sam Altman (@sama) January 10, 2024

Developing AI models would be “impossible” without copyrighted materials, OpenAI claims

Following a proposed ban on using news publications and books to train AI chatbots in the U.K., OpenAI submitted a plea to the House of Lords communications and digital committee. OpenAI argued that it would be “impossible” to train AI models without using copyrighted materials, and that they believe copyright law “does not forbid training.”

OpenAI claims The New York Times’ copyright lawsuit is without merit

OpenAI published a public response to The New York Times’s lawsuit against them and Microsoft for allegedly violating copyright law, claiming that the case is without merit.

In the response , OpenAI reiterates its view that training AI models using publicly available data from the web is fair use. It also makes the case that regurgitation is less likely to occur with training data from a single source and places the onus on users to “act responsibly.”

We build AI to empower people, including journalists. Our position on the @nytimes lawsuit: • Training is fair use, but we provide an opt-out • "Regurgitation" is a rare bug we're driving to zero • The New York Times is not telling the full story https://t.co/S6fSaDsfKb — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 8, 2024

OpenAI’s app store for GPTs planned to launch next week

After being delayed in December , OpenAI plans to launch its GPT Store sometime in the coming week, according to an email viewed by TechCrunch. OpenAI says developers building GPTs will have to review the company’s updated usage policies and GPT brand guidelines to ensure their GPTs are compliant before they’re eligible for listing in the GPT Store. OpenAI’s update notably didn’t include any information on the expected monetization opportunities for developers listing their apps on the storefront.

GPT Store launching next week – OpenAI pic.twitter.com/I6mkZKtgZG — Manish Singh (@refsrc) January 4, 2024

OpenAI moves to shrink regulatory risk in EU around data privacy

In an email, OpenAI detailed an incoming update to its terms, including changing the OpenAI entity providing services to EEA and Swiss residents to OpenAI Ireland Limited. The move appears to be intended to shrink its regulatory risk in the European Union, where the company has been under scrutiny over ChatGPT’s impact on people’s privacy.

What is ChatGPT? How does it work?

ChatGPT is a general-purpose chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to generate text after a user enters a prompt, developed by tech startup OpenAI . The chatbot uses GPT-4, a large language model that uses deep learning to produce human-like text.

When did ChatGPT get released?

November 30, 2022 is when ChatGPT was released for public use.

What is the latest version of ChatGPT?

Both the free version of ChatGPT and the paid ChatGPT Plus are regularly updated with new GPT models. The most recent model is GPT-4o .

Can I use ChatGPT for free?

There is a free version of ChatGPT that only requires a sign-in in addition to the paid version, ChatGPT Plus .

Who uses ChatGPT?

Anyone can use ChatGPT! More and more tech companies and search engines are utilizing the chatbot to automate text or quickly answer user questions/concerns.

What companies use ChatGPT?

Multiple enterprises utilize ChatGPT, although others may limit the use of the AI-powered tool .

Most recently, Microsoft announced at it’s 2023 Build conference that it is integrating it ChatGPT-based Bing experience into Windows 11. A Brooklyn-based 3D display startup Looking Glass utilizes ChatGPT to produce holograms you can communicate with by using ChatGPT.  And nonprofit organization Solana officially integrated the chatbot into its network with a ChatGPT plug-in geared toward end users to help onboard into the web3 space.

What does GPT mean in ChatGPT?

GPT stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer.

What is the difference between ChatGPT and a chatbot?

A chatbot can be any software/system that holds dialogue with you/a person but doesn’t necessarily have to be AI-powered. For example, there are chatbots that are rules-based in the sense that they’ll give canned responses to questions.

ChatGPT is AI-powered and utilizes LLM technology to generate text after a prompt.

Can ChatGPT write essays?

Can chatgpt commit libel.

Due to the nature of how these models work , they don’t know or care whether something is true, only that it looks true. That’s a problem when you’re using it to do your homework, sure, but when it accuses you of a crime you didn’t commit, that may well at this point be libel.

We will see how handling troubling statements produced by ChatGPT will play out over the next few months as tech and legal experts attempt to tackle the fastest moving target in the industry.

Does ChatGPT have an app?

Yes, there is a free ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android users.

What is the ChatGPT character limit?

It’s not documented anywhere that ChatGPT has a character limit. However, users have noted that there are some character limitations after around 500 words.

Does ChatGPT have an API?

Yes, it was released March 1, 2023.

What are some sample everyday uses for ChatGPT?

Everyday examples include programing, scripts, email replies, listicles, blog ideas, summarization, etc.

What are some advanced uses for ChatGPT?

Advanced use examples include debugging code, programming languages, scientific concepts, complex problem solving, etc.

How good is ChatGPT at writing code?

It depends on the nature of the program. While ChatGPT can write workable Python code, it can’t necessarily program an entire app’s worth of code. That’s because ChatGPT lacks context awareness — in other words, the generated code isn’t always appropriate for the specific context in which it’s being used.

Can you save a ChatGPT chat?

Yes. OpenAI allows users to save chats in the ChatGPT interface, stored in the sidebar of the screen. There are no built-in sharing features yet.

Are there alternatives to ChatGPT?

Yes. There are multiple AI-powered chatbot competitors such as Together , Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude , and developers are creating open source alternatives .

How does ChatGPT handle data privacy?

OpenAI has said that individuals in “certain jurisdictions” (such as the EU) can object to the processing of their personal information by its AI models by filling out  this form . This includes the ability to make requests for deletion of AI-generated references about you. Although OpenAI notes it may not grant every request since it must balance privacy requests against freedom of expression “in accordance with applicable laws”.

The web form for making a deletion of data about you request is entitled “ OpenAI Personal Data Removal Request ”.

In its privacy policy, the ChatGPT maker makes a passing acknowledgement of the objection requirements attached to relying on “legitimate interest” (LI), pointing users towards more information about requesting an opt out — when it writes: “See here  for instructions on how you can opt out of our use of your information to train our models.”

What controversies have surrounded ChatGPT?

Recently, Discord announced that it had integrated OpenAI’s technology into its bot named Clyde where two users tricked Clyde into providing them with instructions for making the illegal drug methamphetamine (meth) and the incendiary mixture napalm.

An Australian mayor has publicly announced he may sue OpenAI for defamation due to ChatGPT’s false claims that he had served time in prison for bribery. This would be the first defamation lawsuit against the text-generating service.

CNET found itself in the midst of controversy after Futurism reported the publication was publishing articles under a mysterious byline completely generated by AI. The private equity company that owns CNET, Red Ventures, was accused of using ChatGPT for SEO farming, even if the information was incorrect.

Several major school systems and colleges, including New York City Public Schools , have banned ChatGPT from their networks and devices. They claim that the AI impedes the learning process by promoting plagiarism and misinformation, a claim that not every educator agrees with .

There have also been cases of ChatGPT accusing individuals of false crimes .

Where can I find examples of ChatGPT prompts?

Several marketplaces host and provide ChatGPT prompts, either for free or for a nominal fee. One is PromptBase . Another is ChatX . More launch every day.

Can ChatGPT be detected?

Poorly. Several tools claim to detect ChatGPT-generated text, but in our tests , they’re inconsistent at best.

Are ChatGPT chats public?

No. But OpenAI recently disclosed a bug, since fixed, that exposed the titles of some users’ conversations to other people on the service.

What lawsuits are there surrounding ChatGPT?

None specifically targeting ChatGPT. But OpenAI is involved in at least one lawsuit that has implications for AI systems trained on publicly available data, which would touch on ChatGPT.

Are there issues regarding plagiarism with ChatGPT?

Yes. Text-generating AI models like ChatGPT have a tendency to regurgitate content from their training data.

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    The District Heating Power Plant Steyr is a renewable combined heat and power plant in which wood chips are used to generate power. The largest district heating system in Austria is in Vienna (Fernwärme Wien) - with many smaller systems distributed over the whole country. District heating in Vienna is run by Wien Energie.

  2. Sustainable deployment of energy efficient district heating: city

    Heating and cooling account for 50% of the European Union's energy consumption and, therefore, reducing its impact is essential to minimise dependency on energy imports (particularly fossil fuel), which are bound to geopolitical conflicts. District heating arises as a critical player in this transition towards a more efficient energy framework.

  3. District Heating

    District heating is an underground infrastructure asset where thermal energy is provided to multiple buildings from a central energy plant or plants. Steam or hot water produced at the plant is transmitted 24/7 through highly insulated underground thermal piping networks. The thermal energy is transferred to the building's heating system ...

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    District heating currently represents almost 4% of global CO2 emissions, with a significant contribution arising from China and, to a lesser extent, Russia. Europe is the third largest emitter, but on average it has a lower carbon intensity compared to the rest of the world. Over the past decade, the global average CO2 intensity of district ...

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    Around 90% of the city's buildings are connected to a district heating network that is one of the largest district heating systems in Europe. Stockholm's foresight in choosing district heating is a striking example of prioritizing sustainability and a circular economy. The city reuses or re-circulates resources that would otherwise go to ...

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  8. Anthropogenic impact of Moscow district heating system on urban

    Moscow City district heating system is the largest in the world and understanding of its anthropogenic impact on environment, such as CO2 emissions or thermal emissions, is important for understanding and managing possibilities within different urban agglomerations. The heat supply system of Moscow differs from its counterparts in European ...

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  12. A Complete Guide to District Heating

    What district heating means. As the name suggests, district heating is a method of supplying heat and hot water to an entire area, or "district" of buildings, from a single system. This means that a community uses a shared supply of energy instead of each relying on different heating systems, so homes and businesses are supplied with ...

  13. Germany aims to connect 100,000 buildings to district heating every

    By 2030, 50% of district heating in Germany will have to run on renewables, with large-scale heat pumps emerging as winning technology in other European capitals like Helsinki.

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    1. Introduction. According to the report of the International Energy Agency [1], district heating (DH) in Russia demands about 50% of the total energy supplied to buildings.Buildings and the construction sphere in Russia have an annual energy-saving potential of approximately 180 Mt of coal equivalent (Mtce 1) and a carbon dioxide emissions reduction potential of 205 Mt CO 2 e [2].

  15. Eavor joins European hub for District Heating and Cooling

    Eavor has recently joined the DHC+ Platform, advancing Next-Generation Geothermal energy within Europe's district heating and cooling market. The DHC+ Platform, headquartered in Brussels, serves as Europe's hub for research and innovation in district heating and cooling. It brings together over 60 stakeholders from academia, research, business, and industry to promote sustainable energy ...

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    Furthermore, district heating is very convenient for consumers - who hardly notice how their radiators and tap water are heated on a daily basis. District heating enables a green future. District Heating is not only compatible with renewable energy sources of today; With an established district heating network, future energy sources can also be ...

  17. PDF Technical, economic and ecological effects of lowering temperatures in

    Conclusion. The transition from the current 150/70 °С and 130/70 °С temperature charts to the 110/55 °С, 110/50 °С, 105/55 °С, 105/50 °С, 100/50 °С, and 95/50 °С temperature charts in the Moscow heat supply system allows for: fuel savings of 680-870 ; carbon dioxide emissions reduction by 1.1-1.4 Mt CO2/a. The 110/50 °С ...

  18. Warmth cycle: How Moscow flats are heated

    A central district heating substation includes a large amount of equipment in a separate out building that provides heat and hot water for a building or a group of buildings. Water (the heat carrier) comes from the pump station. This small outbuilding is located in the courtyard of a residential building and can be used by several buildings.

  19. From stoves to thermal power stations: the history of Moscow's heat

    The Moscow Hydropower Station's Heating Network (MOGES) was established 90 years ago, on 28 January 1931, bringing the city's centralised heating system to everyone. "Today, this is one of the most powerful and longest heat supply systems in the world and includes over 16,600 kilometres of building-heating systems and 24 pumping stations.

  20. District heating and CHP in Russia: Room for improvement

    Heat in Moscow is produced by 15 large CHP plants, 70 district and local heating plants (DHPs and LHPs), and 100 local boilers (LBs).Table 1, below, shows their capacity and production. The primary heat/hot water network includes almost 2300 km of pipes with an average diameter of 570 mm, and 21 booster pump stations.

  21. Russia, annual heat deliveries to end-use sectors through district

    Russia, annual heat deliveries to end-use sectors through district heating networks, 2000-2021 - Chart and data by the International Energy Agency.

  22. 7 Most Common Myths About Moscow Revealed

    The most common myths among Indian tourists about Russian capital were revealed. In tourist, the company with 95 years' background in the inbound tourism market in Russia, conducted a survey ...

  23. PDF Innovation and Economy Innovation in Russian District Heating ...

    Reorganization of the Moscow district heating companies in 2004-2014 Кovalev А., Proskuryakova L., pp. 42-57 Gazprom Energy Holding 2004 2014. Innovation and Economy 46 FOReSIghT-RuSSIa vol. 8. no 3 2014 from Mosenergo, becoming independent companies. One of them was OAO

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  26. Modernization of Russian district heating systems with the help of

    The Russian district heating system is the largest in the world, with its networks covering thousands of kilometers and consuming a third of the country's primary energy resources (IEA (International Energy Agency), 2011). It is remarkably exhaustive, supplying both buildings and industry, but at the same time it is characteristically ...

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    The initial seven-way race last month ended with Rose and McCurdy edging out the field for a spot in the runoff. Rose led the way with 24.8% of the vote, or 527 ballots, with McCurdy in 2nd with ...

  28. Amsterdam's new tourism campaign is ready to ruffle some feathers

    If you're a young British male planning a trip to Amsterdam to "go wild," consider yourself on notice.. As "overtourism" threatens to overwhelm the city, the Dutch capital is actively telling certain travelers not to visit via what city officials are dubbing a (rather blunt) "discouragement campaign.". The campaign specifically targets British men aged between 18 and 35 who plan ...

  29. ChatGPT: Everything you need to know about the AI chatbot

    The race to high-quality, AI-generated videos is heating up. On Monday, Runway, a company building generative AI tools geared toward film and image content creators, unveiled Gen-3 Alpha. The ...

  30. PDF June 13, 2024 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— E623 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

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