Crematoria Are Being Used to Heat Homes and Swimming Pools
European countries are leading the way harvesting heat that would otherwise be wasted as green death practices become more common.
In Redditch, England, crematoria are being repurposed to provide heat for homes and swimming pools. The local council installed a heat exchanger in 2013, capturing excess heat from the crematorium's gas-fired ovens. This heat is then distributed via a water loop, supplying the swimming pool and a nearby recreation center. This system has saved the council tens of thousands of pounds annually in fuel costs.
Similar projects are underway in Aberdeen, Scotland, and Kangasala, Finland. In Kangasala, the new crematorium will be connected to the town's district heating network, using almost half of the school's heating needs. The Finnish government is promoting the use of waste heat from unusual sources, such as crematoria, as a way to reduce reliance on natural gas.
While heat recovery technology is becoming more common in the UK, it is more challenging to implement in the US due to fewer district heat networks and the private ownership of crematoria.
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