European countries are increasingly utilizing waste heat from crematoria to warm homes and public facilities, marking a growing trend in sustainable funeral practices. The practice, which began in Redditch, England, in 2011, has since expanded across Europe, with projects in Aberdeen, Scotland, and Kangasala, Finland, demonstrating the feasibility of capturing heat from cremation processes. In Redditch, a heat exchanger captures thermal energy from flue gases emitted during cremation, redirecting it through underground pipes to warm a local swimming pool. This system, operational since 2013, has saved the council tens of thousands of pounds annually in fuel costs. Similar initiatives are emerging elsewhere: Aberdeen's new school will receive waste heat from its crematorium, while Kangasala's upcoming all-electric crematorium will connect to the town's district heating network, supplying over 6,500 homes. The Finnish project, set to open in 2028, reflects a broader push to reduce reliance on natural gas for heating, particularly following geopolitical shifts and climate concerns. While the carbon intensity of cremation varies, recovering waste heat offsets some emissions, with one company claiming savings of 100 kilograms per cremation. A 2024 study suggests that if all UK crematoria adopted such systems, they could meet approximately 1% of the country's total heating needs—a modest but meaningful contribution to decarbonization efforts. Despite the environmental benefits, most crematoria do not actively promote these systems to families, though some are beginning to raise public awareness. The practice has gained acceptance over time, with families increasingly recognizing the practicality of energy-efficient funeral services. In contrast, the U.S. lags behind due to the rarity of district heating networks and privately owned crematoria, though Canadian examples like Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, demonstrate similar success. As climate goals intensify, the integration of waste heat recovery into funeral infrastructure represents a small but innovative step toward sustainable resource use.

The ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, has firmly rejected the proposal put forward by the ACT Greens to co-locate data centres with public swimming pools in Canberra to utilise waste heat for heating purposes. The Greens had suggested that data centres could be placed alongside public pools to use their cooling water as a heating source, potentially reducing heating costs for council-owned pools. Barr argued that public swimming pools should be planned, protected, and developed for recreational and health purposes, and that locating data centre infrastructure on public aquatic sites in suburban areas was inappropriate. The proposal was part of a broader debate on the ACT's approach to data centres, which included calls for more intensive community consultation and a data centre levy to capture the value of the artificial intelligence boom for the community. The Greens also highlighted the example of Deep Green, a tech start-up that has attracted significant investment for projects offering free heat from data centres to warm swimming pools. According to the BBC, a Deep Green data centre the size of a washing machine produced enough heat to keep a 25-metre indoor pool at 30 degrees for about 60 per cent of the time, saving the council-owned pool thousands of pounds in heating costs. The ACT government has faced community pressure over outdoor swimming pools, with residents frustrated by the lack of progress on reopening the Big Splash water park in Macquarie and the redevelopment of the 50-metre outdoor pool at Phillip. The government has stated that a promised data centre strategy will prioritise water security and clear planning rules, while also supporting the centres' ability to create jobs and economic growth. The strategy will also consider building future data centres alongside renewable energy and battery storage projects, with consultation already underway and a draft framework expected early next year. Barr formally advised ACT Greens leader Jo Clay that Labor was opposed to the proposal, and the government has indicated it will develop a data centre framework designed to protect residential areas, housing, and water resources.

Akranes municipality and a company owned by Alexander Eiríksson, Bjarni Ármannsson and Benedikt Bjarnason have signed a letter of intent to develop a data centre area in Grjótkelduflói in Akranes, mbl.is reported. The company’s owners will lead preparations and development of the project in coope…

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