From Data โto Warmth: A British Couple Heats Their Home with a Miniโฃ Data Center
Terrence and โฃlesley Bridges, a couple from Essex, are experiencing a revolutionary change inโ how โคthey heat their home. They’ve tradedโ their gas boiler for a cutting-edge system powered by a small data โcenter installed inโฃ their shed, as reported by the BBC.
The โsystem is part of a pilot project utilizing โขa “HeatHub” – โฃaโฃ compact data center housing 500 computers. These computers generate significant heat while processing dataโข for various companies who foot the electricity bill. Instead of letting this heat dissipate, the HeatHub captures it, transferring it to oil which then heats the water circulating through โthe Bridges’โ radiators.
For Lesley, who suffers from pain exacerbated by cold temperatures due to spinal canal stenosis, a consistently warm home is particularly vital. The new system is delivering just that, and at a remarkable cost reduction.โ The couple’s monthly energy bill has plummeted from ยฃ375 (approximately โฌ424) to just ยฃ40 (โฌ45).
“It’s really great,” โTerrence Bridges told the BBC.”A hundred percent improvement over what we hadโฃ before.” Lesley jokingly โคadds, “You no longer have to โgo to the sauna after you visit us.”
The HeatHub project leverages the fact โฃthat data centers globally โคare substantial energy consumers, with as much as 30% of that energy dedicated to cooling the equipment. By repurposing this wasted heat, โthe developers are aiming to โคcreate a enduring and efficient heating solution.
The system isโข further enhanced by theโ Bridges’ existing solar panels andโข battery storage, maximizing energy savings. The company behind โขHeatHub envisionsโข expanding this technology beyond individual homes,with plans to potentially heat larger structures like hospitals in the future. This innovative approach transforms a potential energy โdrain into a valuable resource, offering a glimpse into a more sustainable future for home heating.