A startup in Germany reckons it’s found a, how can we put this, courageous way to merge cloud computing with staying warm at home this winter.
Rather than throw another log on the fire, you can install one of its toasty server cabinets in your basement. Assuming you have a spare ten grand and a 50Mbps pipe to the internet.
Cloud&Heat emerged this week to suggest homeowners and businesses can use hot racks to heat their buildings. For 12,000 euros (£9,500), the company will install a large fireproof and tamper-resistant housing containing a load of compute systems.
The secured cabinet is then hooked up to heat reservoirs and tanks to warm water and air. Extra heating is vented outside the building when not needed.
The company said for smaller buildings the system could provide all the heating needed, while larger buildings could use the system just to heat water or air in combination with boilers and radiators. Once the installation fee is paid, Cloud&Heat covers all electric, data and maintenance costs (including replacing the server hardware every three to five years) for a period of fifteen years.
Buildings are also required to meet a minimum set of power requirements and the ability to run a 50Mbps connection into the server cabinet.
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1 Comment
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cold? Cuddle these HOT GERMAN RACKS, yours for only 12,000 euro – we swear there’s an IT angle
Nun, das ist verteiltes Rechnen!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/11/14/german_cloud_heat_your_home/
A startup in Germany reckons it’s found a, how can we put this, courageous way to merge cloud computing with staying warm at home this winter.
Rather than throw another log on the fire, you can install one of its toasty server cabinets in your basement. Assuming you have a spare ten grand and a 50Mbps pipe to the internet.
Cloud&Heat emerged this week to suggest homeowners and businesses can use hot racks to heat their buildings. For 12,000 euros (£9,500), the company will install a large fireproof and tamper-resistant housing containing a load of compute systems.
The secured cabinet is then hooked up to heat reservoirs and tanks to warm water and air. Extra heating is vented outside the building when not needed.
The company said for smaller buildings the system could provide all the heating needed, while larger buildings could use the system just to heat water or air in combination with boilers and radiators. Once the installation fee is paid, Cloud&Heat covers all electric, data and maintenance costs (including replacing the server hardware every three to five years) for a period of fifteen years.
Buildings are also required to meet a minimum set of power requirements and the ability to run a 50Mbps connection into the server cabinet.