An angel just got its water wings.Photo: Tommy KlumkerA town near London plans to warm its new sports center and public pool with heat from a nearby crematorium. It could save the town $100,000 as well as boost its environmental cred. “[T]his form of energy is certainly renewable, unless locals stop dying,” writes Triple Pundit.
Said the town council leader, Carole Gandy, on the council’s website: “The use of waste heat energy in this way is good practice and very innovative. It would genuinely be a first in the U.K. and demonstrates Redditch Borough Council’s seriousness about addressing climate change issues … The ‘waste of heat’ has long been considered nonsensical.” Gandy calls it a good way to save energy “while remaining respectful of the bereavement process.”
It’d cost about $60,000 for a system transferring heat from the crematorium’s incinerator, versus $160,000 for a conventional heating system. The town council will also use solar thermal hot water heating for the sports center, which is set to open in about a year.
Local funeral director Simon Thomas voiced his squeamishness to The Guardian: “I don’t know how comfortable people would feel about the swimming pool being heated due to the death of a loved one, I think it’s a bit strange and eerie.” Hey, just keep swimming, just keep swimming …
