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Qarnot's "Computing Heater" Uses Cloud Computing to Heat Individual Spaces

A clever way of saving resources for residents while solving companies' needs

By Rain Noe - June 4, 2021

Some companies need lots of computer processing power, which of course generates a lot of heat that then needs to be mitigated.

Some people need heat for their spaces, which they of course have to pay for.

A French company called Qarnot has figured out a clever way to have these problems solve each other. They've distributed a network's worth of their QH-1, which they call a "computing heater," in homes, offices and public buildings.

Their clients who need computing power can tap into this computer-heater network as needed; the residents then get free heat. Heat levels are controlled via app, meaning computing needs are switched to other units when the residents want it to cool down.

As a heater it's "efficient, ecological and 100% silent," the company writes. And it cuts overall energy costs; the heat that would've been generated anyway by computation is instead distributed to those who need it, sparing them from having to purchase other sources. A hot idea.

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Koos Looijesteijn

3 years ago

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The startup called Nerdalize tried this with good looking hardware (designed by NPK I believe). A couple of years ago they went out of business as they couldn’t make it work at scale

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- Koos Looijesteijn
  
  Koos Looijesteijn
  
  3 years ago
  
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  Oh actually, it looks like they’re still in business but are now called Leafcloud!
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Oliver Poyntz

3 years ago

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What happens in summer when no one wants the heating on?!

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- Sean Thackston
  
  Oliver Poyntz
  
  3 years ago
  
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  turn on the computer-heaters in the Southern Hemisphere?
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Sean Thackston

3 years ago

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Is this the most brilliant idea I've ever read, or am I missing something?

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