Denver Eyes Sewage Heat as Path to Fossil-Fuel-Free Buildings
DENVER, Colo. — City officials in Denver are advancing a plan to heat and cool buildings using an unconventional energy source: wastewater from the municipal sewer system. The approach, which captures thermal energy from sewage flows, is being explored as part of a broader push to reduce the city’s dependence on fossil fuels in its building stock.
Sewage maintains a relatively stable temperature year-round, making it a viable medium for heat-exchange systems that can both warm buildings in winter and provide cooling in summer. Cities in Europe and parts of Asia have used similar technology for years, though large-scale adoption in the United States remains limited.
Denver’s initiative reflects a growing national interest in leveraging existing urban infrastructure for clean energy purposes. If implemented, the program could reduce emissions from one of Colorado’s most carbon-intensive sectors — commercial and residential buildings — without requiring major changes to the city’s above-ground energy grid.
Further details on project scope, cost, and timeline have not yet been made publicly available by city officials.