A London homeowner has seen his hot water bills reduced by up to £15 per month by using a domestic datacentre system. The technology converts heat generated by computer processing into usable energy for the home, potentially saving £120 to £180 annually.
Giles Gibson installed a server unit from Surrey-based company Heata last year. This unit attaches to his hot water cylinder and transfers heat directly to his water supply. Heata aims to provide approximately 80% of a home's hot water heating needs.
The Heata system is currently installed in 100 homes, with 3,000 people on a waiting list. The company anticipates hundreds more installations next year. The system requires homes to have vented, unpressurised water cylinders and is not compatible with combi boilers, though a version for unvented cylinders is under development.
In Essex, a separate trial involves two households testing HeatHub units from Wales-based company Thermify. These units contain nearly 500 Raspberry Pi computers that heat mineral oil as they process tasks, which then warms water for radiators. Thermify plans to produce units in various sizes, from microwave-sized for flats to washing machine-sized for larger houses, which will cost homeowners £90 per month for average-sized homes.