In towns, a number of MULTIDIS members are developing remote or district heating provision. The heat required for heating systems in houses and blocks of flats primarily comes from hot water, transported through pipes, connected on a case-by-case basis, to the places to be heated.
Hot water can be generated by a number of sources; the most common being household waste incineration and specifically designed wood-chip, gas or oil plants. Solutions using renewable energy sources are generally preferred, especially in the case of new facilities. Installing district heating requires considerable investment but, in the long term, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.