Officials at a crematorium in Halmstad, a town of 55,000 people on the western edge of Sweden, are considering using the heat expelled during its operations to warm the facility itself.
The idea began to take form after an environmental review concluded that the crematorium’s chimneys were pumping too much smoke into the air. Inspectors have said the crematorium would have to buy new ovens in order to meet basic environmental standards.
The director of the cemetery has noted that during the discussion of environmental concerns the parties involved began to consider how the waste heat at the facility could be used in a productive manner.
If the plan comes to fruition, the crematorium would begin by heating its own facility, with the possibility of connecting to the city’s district heating network to provide heat to other city buildings So far, the plan has met with approval from the locals; however, there may a discussion on the ethics of the plan.
