Homeowners are exploring innovative ways to heat their homes, with some now using compact computer servers to warm their hot water. Giles Gibson, a London resident, has a small datacentre attached to his hot water cylinder, which heats his water as it operates. He estimates his hot water bills have decreased by £10 to £15 per month since the system was installed last year.
This system, provided by Surrey-based company Heata, aims to provide about 80% of a home's hot water heating. Heata operates by sending processing jobs from clients to servers located in people's homes. The company covers the electricity costs for running the server, while homeowners pay for the necessary fibre broadband connection.
Heata's units are currently in 100 homes, and there is a waiting list of 3,000 people interested in installation. The system is suitable for homes with vented, unpressurised water cylinders and can also work with heat pumps, but it is not compatible with combi boilers. A version for unvented cylinders is reportedly in development.
In a separate project in Essex, two households are testing a concept from Wales-based company Thermify. These freezer-sized HeatHub units contain almost 500 matchbox-sized computers, with the generated heat converted into energy. Thermify plans to offer units in various sizes, with a planned cost of £90 per month for an average-sized home, including installation, leasing, and repairs under a minimum 10-year contract.