A German firm called simply (and aptly) Cloud & Heat is one of those companies. The company developed an inventive method of simultaneously offering cloud service along with an alternative energy source for German households.
In a nutshell, Cloud & Heat allows people to store its servers in German homes in exchange for heat and hot water. High-capacity servers generate a great deal of heat, which normally goes unused.
In this instance, all that excess hot air is collected, fed into a buffer tank, and then exploited to raise the temperature of water and your surroundings. It’s as simple as that. All Cloud & Heat needs from you is space to spare, but there is a catch.
You’ll need 12,000 euros, or $15,000, upfront to cover installation costs. It sounds expensive, but for at least 15 years, you won’t be paying a penny extra. In the long haul, it’ll be like spending €66 ($82) a month on heat and hot water. As Bloomberg reports, energy prices in Germany are among the highest in the E.U. However, it’s unclear whether the costs associated with Cloud & Heat’s offering makes it a good deal for the average consumer.
In the summer time, or whenever heat isn’t needed in your home or office, the Cloud & Heat system can transport it out of the building via a bypass. You can also combine it with existing heating systems if you feel it’s not up to the task by itself. Plus, the servers are hosted inside a massive fireproof safety cabinet that’s virtually unbreakable.
A French corporation titled Qarnot is working on a similar solution, and Microsoft has hinted at using the thermal power generated by data servers for this exact same goal three years ago.
Maybe a way to lower user bills will also be found once others join in on this. In the meantime, you can check out Cloud & Heat’s website for full details regarding their server-powered heating system, and contact them if you’d like to volunteer.
