The Prognos research institute’s new district heating atlas reveals that local energy providers are tasked with generating emissions-free heat for urban households. The availability of district heating networks will significantly impact homeowners’ decisions regarding the adoption of climate-friendly heating solutions, such as heat pumps. While district heating remains underutilized in much of Germany, areas in the former East Germany show a higher prevalence, with over 25% of residences connected to such systems, attributed to systematic infrastructure development and urban planning conducive to centralized heating.