{
  "id": 9705801,
  "title": "This new UK domestic 'data furnace' from Heata can convert cloud computing waste heat into free hot water",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/this-new-uk-domestic-data-furnace-from-heata-can-convert-cloud",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-25T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/this-new-uk-domestic-data-furnace-from-heata-can-convert-cloud-computing-waste-heat-into-free-hot-water"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Heata, a company that installs rented servers in homes, is offering households free hot water. The heat generated by the servers is redirected to the home's water supply for use in showers and hot taps. Heata absorbs any additional electricity needed to run the servers, ensuring that homeowners save money and businesses benefit from low-cost server space. This innovative approach to waste heat utilization is part of a growing industry in the UK and Europe, providing homeowners with opportunities to reduce energy bills while giving businesses an inexpensive solution for server storage. The concept hinges on the simple idea of installing a server in the home, leasing the server space to businesses, and using the generated heat to lower the household's energy costs. In server rooms, excessive heat can be an issue if the extraction system fails. Data furnaces leverage this waste heat by using it to heat water, ultimately reducing the need for gas heating. Heata's model involves attaching a compute unit to a hot water cylinder, heating the water and lowering the need for gas heating. To function effectively, homes require fast broadband to ensure quick data transmission to the compute module. Heata covers the additional electricity costs incurred by the mini server, aiming to provide around 80% of the heating system's heat, resulting in significant reductions in domestic gas bills. Similar to Heata, a Wales-based company called Thermify is seeking trial customers for its HeatHub system. This system utilizes a cluster of Raspberry Pi Compute Modules to generate data solutions and heat, replacing a home's boiler. Although this approach of utilizing server-generated heat for domestic heating presents advantages, it does not come without challenges. One such issue is compatibility; vented hot water cylinders are required for Heata's system, while other providers may use different methods, such as Thermify's HeatHub, to heat water. With the prohibition of gas boilers in new homes starting in 2027, data-to-heat services could be a viable solution for both homeowners and businesses.",
  "summary": "Heata is turning data processing into hot water, using home-installed business servers to heat domestic water supplies.",
  "key_points": [
    "Heata converts cloud computing waste heat into free hot water for households",
    "Servers installed in homes redirect excess heat to water supply for showers and taps",
    "Heata covers additional electricity costs, aiming to reduce gas bills by 80%"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}