Hydronics

Hydronics is the name for heating system and cooling systems using water as the circulated heat exchange medium. One of the oldest and most often seen instances are steam or hot water radiators, frequently seen in construction of the first 3/4ths of the 20th century. Today hydronic systems are much more prevalent, with high-rise and campus facilities operations circulating both chilled and heated water loops to provide for comfort air conditioning needs. Chillers and cooling towers are used seperately or together as means to provide water cooling, while boilers provide for heated water needs. Most larger cities in the US have underground piping, especially in downtown districts, for publicly available steam and chilled water, to which a building may be connected for a service fee.