Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building Typologies

This article presents an analysis on natural gas heating in residential areas, focusing on two primary systems: (1) local heating, where piped gas is delivered directly to individual dwellings equipped with autonomous gas boilers, and (2) district heating, where gas or an alternative fuel powers a c...

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Main Authors: Dejan Brkić, Zoran Stajić, Dragana Temeljkovski Novaković
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Urban Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/284
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author Dejan Brkić
Zoran Stajić
Dragana Temeljkovski Novaković
author_facet Dejan Brkić
Zoran Stajić
Dragana Temeljkovski Novaković
author_sort Dejan Brkić
collection DOAJ
description This article presents an analysis on natural gas heating in residential areas, focusing on two primary systems: (1) local heating, where piped gas is delivered directly to individual dwellings equipped with autonomous gas boilers, and (2) district heating, where gas or an alternative fuel powers a central heating plant, and the generated heat is distributed to buildings via a thermal network. The choice between these systems should first consider safety and environmental factors, followed by the urban characteristics of the settlement. In particular, building typology—such as size, function, and spatial configuration—and urban topology, referring to the relative positioning of buildings, play a crucial role. For example, very tall buildings often exclude the use of piped gas due to safety concerns, whereas in other cases, economic efficiency becomes the determining factor. To support decision-making, a comparative cost analysis is conducted, assessing the required infrastructure for both systems, including pipelines, boilers, and associated components. The study identifies representative residential building types in selected urban areas of Serbia and Czechia that are suitable for either heating approach. Additionally, the article examines the broader energy context in both countries, with emphasis on recent developments in the natural gas sector and their implications for urban heating strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-43b1bdf561a046ef81802771b60b08222025-08-20T03:13:57ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-07-019728410.3390/urbansci9070284Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building TypologiesDejan Brkić0Zoran Stajić1Dragana Temeljkovski Novaković2Faculty of Electronic Engineering, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Electronic Engineering, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Electronic Engineering, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, SerbiaThis article presents an analysis on natural gas heating in residential areas, focusing on two primary systems: (1) local heating, where piped gas is delivered directly to individual dwellings equipped with autonomous gas boilers, and (2) district heating, where gas or an alternative fuel powers a central heating plant, and the generated heat is distributed to buildings via a thermal network. The choice between these systems should first consider safety and environmental factors, followed by the urban characteristics of the settlement. In particular, building typology—such as size, function, and spatial configuration—and urban topology, referring to the relative positioning of buildings, play a crucial role. For example, very tall buildings often exclude the use of piped gas due to safety concerns, whereas in other cases, economic efficiency becomes the determining factor. To support decision-making, a comparative cost analysis is conducted, assessing the required infrastructure for both systems, including pipelines, boilers, and associated components. The study identifies representative residential building types in selected urban areas of Serbia and Czechia that are suitable for either heating approach. Additionally, the article examines the broader energy context in both countries, with emphasis on recent developments in the natural gas sector and their implications for urban heating strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/284heatingnatural gasbuildingsurbanism
spellingShingle Dejan Brkić
Zoran Stajić
Dragana Temeljkovski Novaković
Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building Typologies
Urban Science
heating
natural gas
buildings
urbanism
title Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building Typologies
title_full Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building Typologies
title_fullStr Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building Typologies
title_full_unstemmed Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building Typologies
title_short Natural Gas Heating in Serbian and Czech Towns: The Role of Urban Topologies and Building Typologies
title_sort natural gas heating in serbian and czech towns the role of urban topologies and building typologies
topic heating
natural gas
buildings
urbanism
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/284
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AT draganatemeljkovskinovakovic naturalgasheatinginserbianandczechtownstheroleofurbantopologiesandbuildingtypologies