'ROAD ENERGY SYSTEMS'

Interesting ideas are put to work at Dutch civil engineering firm Ooms Avenhorn. One of their ideas is called the Road Energy Systems. Summer may not be here yet, but soon enough the roads will be hot enough to fry an egg, as the expression goes. OOMS Avenhorn has found a way it to work. The concept is extracting the heat that escalates on asphalt road surfaces during summer months, and the same for the cold on asphalt road surfaces during the winter. Just how they do that involves a 'closed system of pipes running through it' ( a layer of asphalt concrete). The pipes are connected to aquifers of water bearing sand. The temperature of the water heats up in the pipes, then moves to a 'heat source area where it is stored for several months.'

They use a heat pump to raise the temperature and that works to heat buildings. In addition, there is a surplus of thermal energy, which is used to keep the roads from freezing during the winter. Vice-versa in the summer months when the water is pumped from 'the cold source and used to cool buildings'. Information source found at www.ooms.nl/english The benefits have shown to cut CO2 emissions by 50% and minimize use of salt on icy roads. Ooms Avenhorn is a Netherlands based company, that specializes in infrastructure and construction.