INTEGRATION OF MICRO-COGENERATION SYSTEMS INTO EXISTING BUILDINGS.

Because of the growing environmental awareness and the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, combined heat and power receives again more attention as a way to contribute to the reduction of energy use and emissions. Buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption in the European Union. The sector is expanding, which is bound to increase its energy consumption. Nowadays, micro-cogeneration systems became a true and good solution to sustain the energy demand of industrial and even domestic buildings. Them are operating between 0 kWh - 50 kWh. The district heating set up with a cogeneration system, concurs to attain energetic, economic and ambient benefits. It also provides to citizens a new service. The project strategy is based on the idea of supplying a portion of the necessary thermal power through a combustion alternative engine in cogeneration modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]