But because demand is shrinking so fast and maintaining empty homes is expensive central heating boilers are a favourite target for thieves demolishing the worst estates, and shipping the remaining tenants into better areas, may be the best regeneration option.

ECONOMIST: Housing

It is a flexible fuel, capable of heating homes, fuelling industrial boilers and providing feedstock for the petrochemicals industry, where it is turned into plastics, fertiliser and other useful stuff.

ECONOMIST: An unconventional bonanza

Boilers burning dirty heating oils No. 4 and No. 6 produce 50% more air pollution than all of the cars and trucks in New York City and contribute to more than 3, 200 premature deaths every year, according to recent reports by the Environmental Defense Fund and the New York City Department of Health.

FORBES: Big Apple's Nasty Boilers

The new analysis considers how micro-CHP could dramatically reduce household emissions in the UK by replacing condensing boilers in the residential heating sector.

FORBES: Micro-CHP Called 'Critical' to UK's Energy Future

From there the trash is fed into three boilers that burn at 2, 000 degrees, heating water to create steam that spins a 60-megawatt turbine.

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