近年来，越来越多的趋势是使用位于中心位置的工厂向周边地区的许多建筑供应冷冻水，而不是让每个建筑都配备自己的冷却器、冷却塔和控制装置。优点包括:由于更大的中央设备效率更高，因此电力需求减少；由于多样性因素，总连接容量减少（并非所有建筑物都同时要求最大容量）；操作和维护设备所需的人员减少；以及更容易监控整体运行。主要债务是对分配系统的要求。这些系统被用于大学校园、市政中心和其他政府或公共建筑群、机场、军事基地、工业综合体和购物中心。 在一些地区，冷冻水甚至被当作公用事业出售。直到最近，欧洲核子研究中心与冷冻水分配系统的主要合作点是，它的运行问题最少。泵送成本虽然相当高，但与冷水机组所需的能源相比，成本很低，这一点几乎不受关注。然而，随着能源供应有限和燃料成本上升，这种态度正在改变。引用:ASHRAE交易，第81卷，第一部分，新泽西州大西洋城

In recent years there has been a growing trend toward the use of centrally located plants to supply chilled water to a number of buildings in the surrounding area, rather than having each building equipped with its own chillers, cooling tower, and controls. Advantages include reduced power requirements because of the higher efficiency of the larger central equipment, less total connected capacity because of the diversity factor (not all buildings require maximum capacity at the same time), fewer people required to operate and maintain the equipment, and greater ease of monitoring the overall operation. The chief debit is the requirement for a distribution system.These systems are being used on college campuses, for civic centers and other clusters of government or public buildings, for airports, military bases, industrial complexes, and shopping centers. In some areas chilled water is even being sold as a utility.Until recently, the major co~cern with a chilled-water distribution system was that it function with a minimum of problems. There was little concern over pumping costs which, while considerable, were small compared with the energy required by the chillers. With the advent of limited energy supplies,and rising fuel costs, however, this attitude is changing.