Abstract: In a thermoelectric generating plant utilizing heat to generate electric energy and having a recirculating water system in which the water is heated during passage through the plant and must be cooled before recirculation to the plant thus causing a heat loss and resultant loss of energy; the combination therein of apparatus for recapturing a portion of the normally lost energy. The apparatus includes a natural air draft, cooling tower for the flow of air from the bottom to the top thereof and disposed in the recirculating water system for receiving the heated water and passing the heated water through the flow of air at generally the bottom thereof for cooling the heated water and heating the air to cause a natural draft flow of air up through the tower.