Veesoojust

Veesoojust is a concept in environmental design describing an integrated approach to using water as a medium for thermal management in urban and rural settings. The term combines elements of water management and heat control and is discussed in planning and architectural literature as a way to reduce energy demand and strengthen resilience to heat events and drought.

Its core principles include multipurpose water systems that store heat in groundwater or surface water bodies, the use of greywater and rainwater for cooling and preheating, and the incorporation of blue-green infrastructure to regulate microclimates while handling stormwater. Practical implementations may involve aquifer thermal energy storage, closed-loop water networks for district cooling, permeable pavements, and vegetated water features that promote evaporative cooling.

Veesoojust is not a single technology but a design philosophy used in several case studies. It gained attention in northern and coastal regions where climate variability highlights the value of adaptive water-energy strategies. Adoption remains uneven, with success dependent on site hydrogeology, regulatory frameworks, and long-term maintenance.

Related concepts include aquifer thermal energy storage, district cooling, rainwater harvesting, and blue-green infrastructure. The term is primarily used in sustainability and urban design discourse and is sometimes applied interchangeably with integrated water management or climate-responsive design.