Development of an eco-industrial park (EIP) has drawn attention as a promising approach seeking for the mutual benefit to the economy and environment. In recent years, the reduction of energy consumption has become a global necessity due to the high oil price and environmental regulations. In order to find energy strategies in an EIP, a framework to investigate waste heat of an industrial complex was proposed. A mathematical model was developed to synthesize a waste heat utilization network, including nearby companies and communities. A case study of an existing petro-chemical complex in Yeosu, South Korea showed that the total energy cost and the amount of waste heat of the region can be reduced by more than 88% and 82% from the present values, respectively, applying the suggested waste heat utilization networks. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.