Word for a plant that produces hot water

Question

In England every household heats its own hot water for central heating and household use. That may be the reason why I have never encountered a word that could be used to refer to a big heating plant which provides hot water for tens of thousands of people. That's what we have in Finland and I think there must be something similar in Canada, which is colder than Britain. So please, Canadian members, what is the right word? Would hot-water plant be all right?

CB

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Heating Plant

Anonymous · Answer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_heating says it would be called a "heat-only boiler station", for what it's worth.

Annvan · Answer

I think it might be called a district heating plant. We have one here in Almere, Holland, which we call "stadsverwarming". (Sorry, I'm not Canadian though.)

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnnvanI think it might be called a district heating plant. We have one here in Almere, Holland, which we call "stadsverwarming". (Sorry, I'm not Canadian though.)

Thanks, Annvan.

That sounds like a good term for me because it makes it clear for a Briton that the plant supplies water for a large area. I have always had to explain this plant, of which there are five or six in Helsinki, using more or less home-made expressions when I talk to my British friends. Your Dutch (?) term is understandable to me as well because it looks quite Swedish:stad means town in Swedish.

CB

Philip · Answer

When I was in Moscow last June it was described as a "central water-heating plant".

Cool Breeze · Answer

PhilipWhen I was in Moscow last June it was described as a "central water-heating plant".

Thanks, Philip. I'm not a native speaker so I don't know which term I should use. "Central water-heating plant" makes it very clear what is heated, that's for sure!

CB

Anonymous · Answer

In England the water heating system in a personal home is called "central heating" so using the word "central" will cause confusion.

There is no strict name for what you are describing, you can use whatever terms describe the system the best.

I think using the words "district" or "county" together with "station" will help your friends understand quickly what you mean.

For example:

District water heating station.

You can also use the prefix "hydro" to describe water.

Hydrothermal Energy Station.

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousIn England the water heating system in a personal home is called "central heating"

so using the word "central" will cause confusion.

Thanks, Anon. The Finnish equivalent of central heating is used here in the same way as you described, it's just the source of the water or the place where the water is heated that is different. No one in a city or a town heats his own water unless he lives in a very remote area. Huge underground pipes take the water to the customers and the heating plants and their pipes are interconnected, so if one plant develops a malfunction, that's no cause for alarm. Another plant takes over its duties. Very reliable and very economical. A thermostat keeps my indoor temperature at 23C day and night.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

I made the above reply.

my username here is : bmxbandit

I do not know why I show as anonymous.

Finland is a awesome sounding place, I may be going there next year.

Do you have msn? I would find talking about finland useful, I also actually find things like energy supply & geography quite interesting too!

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousI made the above reply. my username here is : bmxbandit I do not know why I show as anonymous. Finland is a awesome sounding place, I may be going there next year. Do you have msn? I would find talking about finland useful, I also actually find things like energy supply & geography quite interesting too!

Bmxbandit, I think you're the friendliest bandit I ever met.

I don't have MSN, I don't think I even know what exactly it is because I'm not a teenager any more and I exchange old-fashioned e-mail messages with my friends. Or talk to them face to face.

If you like, you can start a thread in the Topic of the Moment forum or the Cultural Anecdotes, Similarities and Differences forum about Finland. That way all those who are interested can participate. I'm not really into district heating or energy supply that much, but it's a subject nearly all Brits take up when they hear I'm a Finn. Their first words are: "Finland is cold!" I have been to England several times, once in December, and I decided I will never ever go there again in winter because it's so cold. It's cold indoors! People wear overcoats in London pubs when the outdoor temperature goes down to 0C. Many buildings have miserable central heating and the cracks in the windows are not an advantage either. The curtains move as the wind comes in through those cracks. We believe in winter and dress accordingly and enjoy winter sports but the British just make believe they have eternal summer even when it snows.

Mind you, England can be very nice in summer. Perhaps it is a little too densely populated for me and there are few lakes and rivers and hardly any forests, but other than that - just fine. But winter in England - no way!

Cheers
CB

Word for a plant that produces hot water

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