Flats could be heated by Metro

A PARIS housing association is considering heating water in one of its blocks of flats using hot air from the Metro.

Paris Habitat, the city’s biggest provider of subsidised housing, wants to make use of the fact that the air in the Rambuteau station, under one of its buildings, is always 14-20C.

They had the brainwave after realising that there is already an old tunnel linking their basement with the Metro station, which will make the project more financially feasible.

The idea is to install a heat pump that will use the warmth in the Metro to heat the building’s water supplies. This would boost warmth already provided by a local “urban heating” system /that burns/ household waste, to which the building is linked.

However Paris Habitat is still not sure if its idea will work well enough to make the installation costs worthwhile and has not yet worked out how much it might have to add to tenants’ charges as a result. It will be inviting firms to make estimates next month and work could start next year.

• The warm temperature in the Metro means it is a suitable habitat for crickets, according to La Ligue de Protection des Grillons du Métro Parisien, which campaigns to protect them. It opposed a law banning smoking in the Metro, because it said cigarette stubs were one of the insects’ favourite foods.

Photo credits: Photo:Fabbio Venni