Thanks to a mini data center in his garden, he lowers his energy bill: focus on a new technology

In general rule, homeowners equip their gardens with pools, barbecues, garden sheds, or verandas. But in England, some have had another idea. This is the case for Terence Bridges. Interviewed by TF1, this British army veteran has installed a data center in his garden shed. “It’s my new toy. I am very proud to be the first one to have one and to know that it’s the only one,” explains the retiree who now heats his house with it.

But this idea didn’t come to him alone. It is the result of a partnership with the company Thermify Heatub. This company normally hosts data from business websites or applications. In theory, for this type of storage, thousands of processors are needed that generate heat. “We capture the heat from these computers. It is stored in this battery. And when there is a demand for heating in the house, the battery provides this heat,” explains Travis Theune, the CEO of the company, to TF1.

A subscription for 57 euros per month

For him, this strategy is a win-win. Why? Because inside, there is the equivalent of 500 computers, powered by electricity and paid for by the data host. Another advantage is that it is cheaper than a heat pump. “For a heating solution in a garden shed like this one, the price is comparable to traditional solutions. For the equipment, you have to pay 2,800 euros for 10 years.”

However, afterwards, the subscription is much cheaper than a traditional heating solution. “We charge 57 euros per month for the energy,” specifies Travis Theune. “I no longer worry. If I want to heat to 25 degrees, I can. And it doesn’t cost me more than staying at 18 degrees,” explains the first beneficiary of this system on his part. Moreover, since he set up the data center, he has seen the difference: -300 euros per month.

The company plans to install ten more in the next eighteen months. Note that the data is secure and monitored remotely while the user cannot open the data center. For several months, the demand for data centers has been exploding. The heat they produce could quickly become a new significant resource.