The UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey is promoting water-source heat pumps as a mechanism to heat homes. The low-energy and carbon-free devices extract thermal energy from waterways to heat water for radiators and showers. The operating principle is simple: heat flows spontaneously from a warm place to a colder one.
Davey has identified more than 4,041 rivers, estuaries, coastal sites and canals containing water warm and accessible enough to heat homes, reports The Independent. One million homes situated new these water courses could benefit. Prime examples include buildings around the River Ouse in Selby, the River Trent in Nottingham and the Thames in London.
Signal spotted by James Goodman