THE object of this paper is to show-(a) That on the evidence of experts such communal services as central heating and hot water supplies are possible for groups of houses built on town-planning lines. (b) That they would save labour in the homes, economise fuel, and lessen the smoke nuisance from domestic chimneys. (c) That the capital cost of a central installation for a supply of hot water is lower with large numbers than the cost of supplying each house with a boiler, cylinder, etc., and

more »

... in the case of central heating, the cost of the installation is to a considerable extent discounted by the reduced expenditure upon fireplace and chimney work. Leaving central heating aside for the moment, let us consider communal hot water supply by itself as being the more immediately practicable proposal about the popularity of which there is no doubt. Every housewife, and none more than the working-class woman, would appreciate hot water constantly &dquo on tap.&dquo Quite recently the Manchester Air Pollution Advisory Board has issued a report on Central Hot Water Systems for VVorking-class Houses, drawn up by a committee, which included engineers, architects and practical builders, and obtained evidence from heating engineers and other experts. Written from the point of view of smoke abatement and fuel economy, the report (having shown that Manchester wastes through unintelligent methods about half of the million tons of coal it burns annually for domestic purposes, and that damage to the extent of ~750.000 is done in the city each year by smoke), points out that one improvement on present practice would be attained by providing groups of houses with a central supply of hot water to baths and sinks from coke-heated boilers. It is shown that to convey hot water to groups of houses, built as the new houses must be built on town-planning lines, is a practicable proposal. It is well known in the case of sanatoria and large works that hot water can, with proper insulation of pipes, be conveyed long distances without serious loss of heat. One striking feature in the report is that a scheme for a central hot water supply to an estate of 400 houses (10 to the acre) submitted by a well-known firm of heating engineers, shows that the capital expenditure for the central installation is lower by £3 3s. per at Bobst Library, New York University on April 25, 2015 rsh.sagepub.com Downloaded from