Did you know that the average desktop computer consumes about 354-kilowatt hours of energy a day, and that 90% of that energy consumption comes from the computer being idle? So can you imagine how much energy a supercomputer consumes?

Researchers at IBM realized that about half of a supercomputer’s energy consumption comes from cooling the system to keep it from overheating, so they have designed a new green energy savings computer that will recycle the water-cooled microchips into heat for the surrounding room. It’s called the Aquasar.

How does it work?

The eco friendly aspect of IBM’s Aquasar energy saving super computer lies in how the microchips are cooled. Most supercomputers cool the water between the processors, but the Aquasar brings the liquid as close to the chips as possible without getting them wet. The cold water is then heated by the chips, recycling it into the outside air.

The Aquasar, which is located at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, now provides heat for the university’s heating system. Maybe in the future it can heat universities and dorms around the world.

Don’t forget to check out our computer recycling page.

Source: Wired