sources, economics, and economic and legal framework. The European Commission aims to develop sustainable practices through implementation of district heating and cooling technology. In the year 2000 the percentage of houses supplied by district heat in some European countries was as follows: In Iceland the prevailing positive influence on DH is availability of easily captured geothermal heat. In most Eastern European countries, energy planning included development of cogeneration and district heating. Negative influence in the Netherlands and UK can be attributed partially to milder climate, along with competition from natural gas. The tax on domestic gas prices in the UK is a third of that in France and a fifth of that in Germany. See also District cooling Central solar heating Geothermal heating List of public utilities CHP Directive New York City steam system Public utility Thermal energy storage Deep water source cooling Energy policy of the European Union Cost of electricity by source Cogeneration Alchevsk district heating disaster (2006) Footnotes External links UK's Information Portal on Decentralised and District Energy District Energy Library Technical description of district heating and district cooling at Munich Airport, Germany Geothermal District Heating, Iceland Future Challenges for CHP in the UK and Continental Europe, Feb 2010 by F.Starr Max Fordham argues against use of CHP District Heating Energy Hub – EU funded FP7 Project – District heating, cooling and power aiming for 100% on-site renewable energy at Leuven, Belgium Advantages and Disadvantages of CHP district heating compared to heating and cooling from Heat Sharing Networks. A Balanced Energy Network integrates heat pumps, demand side response and distributed heat storage in a district heat sharing network. Heat Interface Units The Celsius Toolbox – Information on district energy solutions and energy transition. American inventions Energy conservation Residential heating