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A couple are able to heat their home for just £40 a month - by using a data centre in their garden shed. Terrence and Lesley Bridges, from Braintree in Essex, have become the first people in the UK to trial a scheme which sees their gas boiler swapped for tiny computers.
The data centre, which houses more than 500 computer banks, generates heat which is then captured and conveyed into the couple's hot water system. Mr Bridges, 76, was paying £375 a month in heating and electricity bills for his two-bedroom bungalow which he shares with his wife Lesley, 75.
However, with the 'HeatHub' data centre, developed by Thermify, stored in their eight foot by six foot garden shed, his bills now stand between £40 and £70. The retired RAF sergeant said: "I haven't got to worry about whether I can afford to turn the heating up because now I can.
"Being the guinea pig, as we're known, it's all well worth it. My wife, Lesley, suffers with spinal stenosis and when it gets too cold, her back locks up.
"We need heat and this is why I used to spend a lot of money heating the bungalow. We can be running the heat 24 hours a day and it's instant. If the temperature ever drops inside, I just put it up a couple of degrees and straight away it's nice and warm again."
The project is part of UK Power Networks' SHIELD project - an initiative to come up with ways for low-income households to transition to net zero. The HeatHub data centre was developed by Thermify while the Bridges' were introduced to the scheme by their landlords Eastlight Community Homes.
Mr Bridges praised the 'eco-friendly' scheme which has also seen solar panels installed on their roof. Mr and Mrs Bridges, who have lived in the bungalow for three years, had the data centre installed on December 3, 2024.
'Size of a chest freezer'
Mr Bridges said: "Originally we looked at having it put in the living room but decided against that. We thought about the garden but we didn't want to ruin the flower beds. So we had it installed in the shed. The box itself is the size of a chest freezer and we also have the battery and convertor.
"I'd heard of data centres and always wondered about them. I was interested as I've got grandchildren and I'm thinking of when they grow up. Having them in warehouses, I think 'what a waste because you're losing all that heat when you could be heating properties up.'
"The problem we used to have is the bungalow would be half-warm and half-cold. The complete bungalow is warm now and we don't have any cold hotspots.
"Without a doubt, I would recommend it. The amount of people I've spoken to, they've all wanted to look at it. Consequently, I let them in to have a look and they can't get over it. I'm pleased that we've done it. I'm hoping it goes on further."
Travis Theune, CEO and co-founder of Thermify, explained: "You can do clean energy or you can do cheap energy - it has been challenging to provide clean and affordable power. This solution provides an opportunity to do that. The goal of the company and our mission state is to reduce and eliminate fuel poverty in the UK. We've found a way to heat people's homes by using electricity that is already been utilised."
Daniel Greenwood, Head of Asset Management & Investment at Eastlight Community Homes, said: "We're proud to work with our SHIELD partners to implement the first heat hub installation in the UK, as well as other practical ways to make our homes warmer, greener and cheaper for residents to run.
"Data centre technology, such as the Thermify Heat Hub, is a clear example of how innovation can improve day-to-day living while helping us achieve our Energy Performance Certificate targets at pace. The trial in Mr Bridges' home shows strong carbon reductions and much lower heating costs.
"With the potential to support many more households, we look forward to working with our partners to roll out this initiative to a further 50 homes in the next phase of the project."
Jack McKellar, UK Power Networks innovation programme manager, said: "SHIELD is our flagship innovation project, an ambitious programme designed to enable vulnerable and low-income households to benefit from new low-carbon technology.
"Backed by Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund, we aim to scale this up to 100,000 units annually by 2030. We don't want anyone to miss out on the benefits of new and emerging technologies, as the UK moves towards a greener future."