The district heating system has been recognized worldwide as a form of using energy for heating with a very high degree of environmental protection. Heat energy is generated in one place, there is a high degree of energy conversion and generation can be adjusted to exterior temperatures and demand. Emission of harmful gases is overseen by various institutions and managed by specially trained staff.

The distribution of heat energy and its consumption in customers' premises has been simplified to the maximum possible extent. In customers' premises there are no potentially flammable or explosive fuels in many small locations, as in the case of gas, oil or coal where each user is responsible for the working order and safety of their own fixtures and burning points.

HEP Toplinarstvo contributes to environmental protection through various forms of efficient use of heat energy, the final aim of which is, together with reduced consumption in customers' premises, to reduce the necessary production of energy in generating plants. Emission of harmful gases and particulates into the air is thereby also reduced.

Efficient use of heat energy is ensured by HEP Toplinarstvo through

• Installation of pre-insulated pipes for the distribution of heat energy from the sources (heating plants) to customers (residential and business buildings). This technology extends the useful life of pipelines, reduces energy transfer losses and guarantees improved security of supply to all customers.
• Installation of new generations of automatic control in heating substations in customers' buildings, which improves heat consumption control in individual buildings and/or reduces unnecessary consumption.
• Installation of individual metering of heat energy in customers' apartments, so that customers can control their own consumption and thereby costs related to the heating of their living quarters. This significantly reduces the consumption of heat energy and thereby indirectly contributes to environmental protection due to reduced emission of harmful gases and particulates into the air.

In addition to the above forms of efficient use of heat energy which indirectly contribute to the protection and preservation of the environment, let us mention more of those that focus on environmental protection and preservation.

• Service water, which is used to transfer heat energy through pipelines, is completely harmless and has no environmental impact whatsoever. For its service purposes, it is prepared by deaeration and decalcification, in the technological processes which do not use chemicals that may harm the environment.

The cleaning treatment of hot water fixtures in customers' heating fixtures to remove calcium carbonate (scale) is done by using agents which are totally harmless for human health and environment.

Environmental protection plans for heating system refurbishment projects

Portions of the heating systems in Zagreb and Osijek, that are more than 40 years old, are worn out and increasingly exposed to cracks which leads to greater losses in the cycle and increased maintenance costs. In order to improve system safety, a project has been prepared to replace the most vulnerable portions of the hot water network. The total cost of project implementation in both cities is about 24 million euros, which will be funded by a World Bank loan. As required by the World Bank guidelines and laws of the Republic of Croatia,  an Environmental Protection Plan has been prepared as a separate document of the Pre-feasibility Study for replacement and refurbishment of the main hot water pipelines of the district heating systems in the cities of Zagreb and Osijek.