A REVOLUTIONARY new heating system is set to bring cheaper, greener heat to more than 700 homes on estates in Islington.

Islington Council is planning to install a local heating network in Finsbury, fed by a local energy centre which produces electricity.

In the same way that heat from a car engine is used to heat a car while the vehicle is moving, heat made during electricity production in the energy centre will be used to heat water.

Hot water will be piped to 710 homes on the Stafford Cripps, Redbrick and St Luke’s estates, and also supply Finsbury Leisure Centre and Ironmonger Row Baths.

Similar systems have been used for years in cities including Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Vancouver and Vienna, and there are others operating in London.

Councillor Paul Smith, Islington Council’s executive member for environment, said: “The heating network will bring lower heating bills to hundreds of residents on estates, at less cost to the environment.

“This is a tried and tested technology across the world and we look forward to bringing it to Islington so local people can benefit.”

Residents on estates, including leaseholders, will not be recharged for the cost of building or connecting the heat network as the project is fully grant-funded by the London Development Agency and the Homes and Community Agency.

The council will submit a planning application next month for the energy centre close to the corner of Central Street and Mitchell Street.

If planning permission is granted, the plan is to bring the network into service in the second half of 2012, ready for the 2012/2013 winter.