Here’s an innovative way to get something good from a problem; some Americans are using bitcoin mining computers to heat their homes this winter. The computers used for bitcoin mining create a lot of heat that normally just gets vented into the air. Bitcoin mining generates about 100 terawatt hours of heat every year, enough to heat all of Finland, and people are now finding ways to capture that heat for their homes and businesses.
In Challis, Idaho, a car wash owner was spending $25 a day to heat his building. After installing bitcoin miners, he now makes more money from bitcoin than he spends on electricity. A concrete company is saving $1,000 a month by heating a water tank with mining heat. However, experts warn this might not actually save money for most people; the economics depend on local electricity rates and the cost of mining equipment, which needs replacing every few years.
Source: CNBC
