undefined | Better HN

0 pointsarbuge4y ago0 comments

> PoW generates heat, which is not waste, if it is utilized.

There are far more energy-efficient ways of generating that heat than PoW. This is an (extremely) flawed argument.

PoW is roughly akin to resistive heating. Heat pumps are about three times as energy-efficient as resistive heating. This does not even begin to take into account that there is no practical way to transfer the heat generated in massive server farm installations to where it would actually be useful without incurring massive losses.

0 comments

Geee4y ago

There's also the need to heat water, and that requires resistive heaters. Also, heat pumps don't really work in colder climates as the only heat source. Resistive heating is the most common way to heat spaces with electricity.

ben-schaaf4y ago

> There's also the need to heat water, and that requires resistive heaters.

In terms of a kettle or cooking you're right, but you also can't cook/boil using mining hardware as they're heat limited to ~100C. For hot water heat pumps work great.

> Also, heat pumps don't really work in colder climates as the only heat source.

Ground source heat pumps work just fine in cold climates and have been rapidly getting cheaper.

pkulak4y ago

Heat pumps can run at greater than 100% efficiency at nearly any temperature possible outside. And they can heat water just fine.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse