Standard energy systems of communities, in particular industrialized areas,
are characterized by a considerable amount of avoidable primary energy con
sumption. It can be shown that this potential can be realized by energy sys
tems that are based on cogeneration and electrical heat pump technology. Th
e typical features and components of such systems are discussed and a close
d formula for their primary energy demand is presented. Results for a parti
cular system demonstrate that the primary energy demand of the existing sta
ndard energy systems can be reduced to about 50% by switching over to the e
fficient energy systems. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicates Elsev
ier SAS.