Harvesting energy: body heat to warm buildings

“It means a low-grade waste heat source, like body heat, can be used advantageously. It’s worth them spending a little bit of money on electricity to move heat from building to building, rather than spending a lot on heating with gas.”

Mr Johansson is hoping there will be a lot of spin offs from their idea at Stockholm Central Station: “To get energy usage down in buildings what we need to do is use the energy that is being produced all around us.

“We own both Central Station and Kungbrohuset along with the land in between. So we are in charge of all of it and that has made it easier for us. But this doesn’t mean that it cannot be done otherwise. It just means that real estate owners have to collaborate with each other.”

He also advocates sustainability. “It’s important in Sweden. But it should be important everywhere. Sustainability is the key ingredient to the future of mankind. We need to get sustainable with energy if we are supposed to live on this planet for a long time to come.”

But what about the Swedish commuters in the station – will they be the ones left out in the cold?

“The commuters won’t get chilly because we don’t steal energy from Central Station we use excess heat that was already there before,” says Mr Johansson.

So, with its freezing winters, green credentials and high energy costs, Sweden takes a creative approach to heating.

To stay warm all they need to do is keep the heat on. And, if Stockholm’s Central Station stays busy then for one building at least it is well on the road to a low carbon and energy secure future.