How about warming up for free thanks to the Minions, those little yellow creatures in blue overalls?
As crazy as it may seem, the power of calculations necessary to manufacture the animated film "Minions 2", which is scheduled for release this summer, has made it possible to heat several dozen homes and warehouses in France.
Thanks to the technology developed by the young French company, Qarnot, the computing power of several French companies like the IMG studio is transferred to ecological radiators of a new kind.
"The more these microprocessors work, the more energy they release"
“Concretely, our radiators all embed several microprocessors which are linked by optical fiber to our platform,” explains Antoine de la Bouillerie, sales director of Qarnot.
Each time a consumer turns on or raises the temperature of his heating, our computer platform receives a signal and then automatically dispatches the requests for complex calculations that we manage for our customers to the microprocessors embedded in the radiators.
And the more these microprocessors work, the more energy they release and heat the home ”.
All free of charge for the tenant since the heat is created by the increase in load of the microprocessors.
Called computer radiators, these ultramodern radiators equip a building that has just been renovated in the 11th arrondissement of the capital.
Located between rue des Nanettes and rue des Bluets, this building of 79 social housing units managed by Elogie-Siemp is the first "of such a large scale in Paris with 304 radiators and the second at the national level", according to the professional.
Free heating and wi-fi
In 2018, Gironde Habitat decided to equip a new 49 social housing residence with 348 of these innovative radiators.
Successfully according to the social landlord.
“The installation works very well, we have never had to experience a malfunction, assures Gilles Darrieutort, deputy general manager of Gironde Habitat, who notes two major advantages of this new process.
"For our tenants, it is the opportunity not to pay heating charges, which represents on average a saving of 50 euros per month and for us, the absence of any fluid and any piping allows us to avoid water damage ”.
READ ALSO>
"I save 1200 euros per year": Alain has swapped oil heating for a heat pump
Another advantage that reduces the digital divide, the device being connected to optical fiber, it allows tenants to enjoy free wi-fi.
Finally, the radiator allows you to charge your mobile phone wirelessly and could very quickly accommodate new services.
"Equipped with sensors, these radiators can also indicate the quality of the air and detect movement in the event of an intrusion or on the contrary the absence of movement in the event of discomfort", adds Antoine de la Bouillerie.
And in the event of failure or breakage of the optical fiber?
The company has everything planned.
The radiator then operates in degraded mode for a few hours.
And if necessary, booster resistors can make the relay time to repair.
A still high installation cost
As for calculations, they come from companies among the largest consumers of calculations: the four largest French banks, pharmaceutical, biological, meteorological groups, 3D studios, etc.
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
Enough to allow the company to send large flows of calculations to all its users.
The only downside, but significant, is the price of the installation: each radiator costs between 2700 euros and 3000 euros.
"It is a brake even if the maintenance and replacement of devices are supported by the company because the financial balance is not easy to find despite grants and loans," recognizes Gilles Darrieutort.
READ ALSO>
Electricity: why your bill will increase from February 1
The recovery plan announced this week of 500 million euros to support the rehabilitation and energy renovation of social housing could remedy this.
In the meantime, Gironde Habitat is already ready to continue "the adventure" but differently: "We are in discussions to equip certain homes with a digital boiler, a production of domestic hot water based on this technology but with the advantage of 'be valid throughout the year and no longer just in winter'.