The invention relates to a method for heat recovery in the production of anodes in an annular anode furnace (10), comprising at least one furnace unit ('hearth') (11) with a heating zone (13), a hearth zone (14) and a cooling zone (15), with in each case a plurality of furnace chambers (12) which are interconnected by heating ducts (17), are formed as heat exchangers and serve for receiving the anodes, in which method, to operate the heating zone, a first partial amount of the hot air formed in the cooling zone by the heat dissipated from the anodes is directed into the heating zone by means of a first suction extraction device (23) and a second partial amount of the hot air formed in the cooling zone is directed to a further heat exchanger (27), formed independently of the annular anode furnace, by means of a second suction extraction device (21), wherein the heating up of the heat transfer medium used for operating the heat exchanger takes place primarily by means of the hot air removed from the cooling zone.