区域供暖和制冷（DHC）在环境方面有好的一面，因为一个系统取代了许多单独的锅炉和熔炉，这些锅炉和熔炉一起排放的不受控制的、对环境有害的物质比DHC发电厂要多。然而，来自发电厂的更受控制的排放物更明显、更集中，并被风吹到更远的距离。1990年的《清洁空气法》修正案为减少有害排放设定了明确的目标，发电厂必须逐步改善其工厂和运营，以遵循这些新的指导方针。同样，《国家能源战略》要求遵守《清洁空气法》的宗旨，但同时也提供了一些贸易便利- 为了有更多的时间来建造和安装更有效的设备。在过去40年中，美国的用电量增加了10倍，而发电厂通常只有30%的燃油效率，因此用于燃烧和发电的燃料排放量——其中三分之二被浪费——大幅增加。利用区域供暖和制冷来控制浪费的能源可以极大地改善环境条件，节约大量能源。关键词:区域供暖、区域制冷、空气污染、室外、环境、美国、发电站、效率、节能 ASHRAE Trans。1992年，第98卷，第1部分，论文编号AN-92-12-11041-1046，标签。，参考文献3。比尔。

District heating and cooling (DHC) has a good side with regard to the environment, as one system replaces many individual boilers and furnaces that together would emit a larger amount of uncontrolled, environmentally damaging substances than the DHC power plant. However, the more controlled emissions from the power plant are more visible and concentrated and are carried on by winds to longer distances. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 set definite goals for reducing harmful emissions, and the power plants must gradually improve their plants and operations to follow these new guidelines. Similarly, the National Energy Strategy calls for adherence to the purposes of the Clean Air Act, but at the same time it provides some trade-offs in order to allow more time for the construction and installation of more effective equipment. As the use of electricity has increased tenfold in the United States during the past 40 years and the electricity-producing power plants are usually only about 30% fuel-efficient, the emissions from the fuel that is used to burn and generate electricity - with two-thirds of it wasted - have multiplied enormously. To harness the wasted energy by utilising district heating and cooling could greatly improve environmental conditions and conserve large amounts of energy.KEYWORDS: district heating, district cooling, air pollution, outdoor, environment, USA, power stations, efficiency, energy conservation