The transfer of energy through a network of nodes is fundamental to how both nature and current technology operate. Traditionally, we think of the nodes in a network being coupled to channels that connect them, in which energy is passed from node to channel to node until it reaches its targeted site. Here we introduce an alternate approach to this, where our channels are replaced by collective environments (or, actually, reservoirs) which interact with pairs of nodes. We show how energy initially located at a specific node can arrive at a target node—even though that environment may be at zero temperature. Further, we show that such a migration occurs on much faster timescales than the damping rate associated with a single spin coupled to the reservoir. Our approach shows the power of being able to tailor both the system and environment and the symmetries associated with them to provide new directions for future quantum technologies.

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• Hybrid quantum systems
• Quantum transport
• Superradiance & subradiance