The City of Glasgow recently took a giant step towards its goal to become "one of Europe’s most sustainable Cities" with the implementation of District Heating at the 2014 Commonwealth Games’ Athlete’s Village. Scotland’s largest city, being well aware that around 80% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are created in and by cities, set out its plan, described in the "Sustainable Glasgow Report 2010", to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

Glasgow has set a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2020 and as the Report indicates; District Heating is set to be a significant component in the achievement of the plan with 5 District Heating zones identified across the city and potentially 10 new Energy Centres generating heat for distribution through new District Heating schemes. Work has commenced on site at the Athlete's Village on a low carbon District Heating scheme which, together with building fabric improvements is set to contribute a huge 60% reduction in carbon as part of a "Games" target of 90% carbon reduction.

The new low carbon energy system will comprise of modern combined heat and power [CHP] technology housed in a purpose built new Energy Centre building designed to deliver all the heating and hot water for the development through a 12km buried network of special pre-insulated pipes which will connect the National Indoor Sports Arena and Velodrome (NISA) and a 120 bed Care Home in addition to the 704 domestic properties which are to be used as athletes' accommodation before and during the Games. City Legacy, the consortium of builders responsible for delivering the Athletes Village properties, appointed Vital Energi Utilities Ltd under instructions from Glasgow City Council which will see Vital Energi carry out the design, installation, commissioning, testing and operation of the scheme until its eventual post Games completion in 2016.