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I have a winter cabin up in the mountains near Seattle, which so happens to have some of the cheapest electricity in the world. (there are quite a few cryptocur

I have a winter cabin up in the mountains near Seattle, which so happens to have some of the cheapest electricity in the world. (there are quite a few cryptocurrency mines nearby) Though we generally heat the place using a modern, efficient wood stove, I've half seriously been pondering buying a few graphics cards and doing some Ethereum mining to heat the basement. If I wasn't a bit scared about it setting the place on fire I'd probably do it, but pretty sure I'd end up heating the place for free after a season.

mv4 9y ago
I am building one right now for my shed.
lexicality 9y ago
Have you ever considered a Rocket Mass Heater? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_mass_heater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_mass_heater) I've been fascinated by them since I found out about the concept but renting inside a city has never given me the chance to try one out.
- nicpottier 9y ago
  These are definitely interesting, kind of have to build your house around one though. We currently use a wood stove that uses a catalytic combuster, so actually reburns the smoke for even more heat. Silly efficiency and almost no particulate matter so passes even the most stringent environmental laws. Its actually one the greenest ways to heat a place like ours. (it only heats the main living area though, we use small space heaters for bedrooms downstairs)
  - lostlogin 9y ago
    A wetback powering distant radiators is what I want to do. It’s just that the radiators look ugly and aren’t easily removed in summer.
lwhalen 9y ago
Are there any data centers up that way, by chance?
- nicpottier 9y ago
  There are a few, though perhaps things are changing up there: http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/High-Capacity-Data-Centers-Blindsided-by-Increase-in-Utilities-Charges.html http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/High-Capacity-Data-Center...
tomcam 9y ago
Roughly where is said cabin? Sounds like a nice place & I'm in the market.

mv4 9y ago

I am building one right now for my shed.

lexicality 9y ago

Have you ever considered a Rocket Mass Heater? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_mass_heater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_mass_heater) I've been fascinated by them since I found out about the concept but renting inside a city has never given me the chance to try one out.

nicpottier 9y ago
These are definitely interesting, kind of have to build your house around one though. We currently use a wood stove that uses a catalytic combuster, so actually reburns the smoke for even more heat. Silly efficiency and almost no particulate matter so passes even the most stringent environmental laws. Its actually one the greenest ways to heat a place like ours. (it only heats the main living area though, we use small space heaters for bedrooms downstairs)
- lostlogin 9y ago
  A wetback powering distant radiators is what I want to do. It’s just that the radiators look ugly and aren’t easily removed in summer.

lwhalen 9y ago

Are there any data centers up that way, by chance?

nicpottier 9y ago
There are a few, though perhaps things are changing up there: http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/High-Capacity-Data-Centers-Blindsided-by-Increase-in-Utilities-Charges.html http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/High-Capacity-Data-Center...

tomcam 9y ago

Roughly where is said cabin? Sounds like a nice place & I'm in the market.