An Essex couple, Terrence and Lesley Bridges, have begun testing a novel heating system that utilizes a data center located in their garden shed. This initiative marks them as the first participants in the UK to implement this technology. Their energy expenses have significantly declined from £375 to approximately £40 to £60 monthly after replacing their conventional gas boiler with a HeatHub, a compact data center housing over 500 computers.
Data centers perform various digital tasks, generating considerable heat during operation. In this case, the excess heat generated is captured, turned into oil, and transferred to the Bridges’ hot water system. This innovative approach was crucial for the Bridges as their home heating needs increased; Mr. Bridges emphasized the necessity of warmth for his wife, who suffers from spinal stenosis.
The HeatHub is a product of Thermify and belongs to the SHIELD project, aimed at assisting low-income households to transition towards net-zero emissions. Alongside the installation of the HeatHub, the Bridges also benefitted from solar panel and battery installations, contributing further to their savings.
Thermify’s CEO, Travis Theune, indicated that the HeatHub is part of a larger vision for a “remote and distributed” data center network, although it is not intended for heavy computational tasks such as artificial intelligence. He noted that the system was designed to provide both affordable and environmentally friendly energy.
Meanwhile, the Bridges’ social housing provider, Eastlight Community Homes, is looking forward to expanding this technology to 50 additional homes. Daniel Greenwood from Eastlight expressed hope that the pilot would yield positive outcomes, enabling wider application of the system.
As data centers are essential for modern functions and consume a significant amount of electricity, there is ongoing interest in capturing and repurposing the heat they generate. Other projects across the UK also explore similar methods.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rpy7envr5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss