2009/12/13, Andre Engels andreengels@gmail.com:
I don't think that's a practical solution. It's not because they need to be cooled that computers cost so much energy - rather the opposite: they use much energy, and because energy cannot be created or destroyed, this energy has to go out some way - and that way is heat.
In cold countries, energy can have two lives : a first life making calculations in a computer, or transforming matter (ore into metal, trees into books), and a second life heating homes.
But the best is to use no energy at all : see the OLPC project in Afghanistan (A computer with pedals, like the sewing machines of our great-great-great-grand-mothers) (1)
(1) http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/afghanistan/updates_from_olpc_afghanistan_...