Water Heater Mines Bitcoin, Offering Potential Solution to AI’s Energy Issue
The intersection of technology and innovation at the CES 2026 show floor showcased a water heater that doubles as a high-powered computer. Superheat, the company behind this unique product, aims to revolutionize how we use waste heat generated by computing, particularly in applications like training AI models or mining cryptocurrency.
The core issue with intensive computing tasks is the excess heat they produce. Cooling these systems in data centers supporting the AI industry consumes a significant amount of energy, second only to powering the computers themselves. Superheat offers a solution by utilizing this waste heat to provide hot water for showers, thus enhancing energy efficiency.
Superheat’s water heaters are suitable for use in homes, apartments, and commercial buildings. Despite consuming a similar amount of energy to standard electric water heaters, Superheat’s innovative design incorporates cryptocurrency mining capabilities. By mining bitcoin, owners can potentially offset the energy costs associated with heating water, which is typically a significant expense following heating and cooling air. The Superheat H1 water heater is priced at approximately $2,000, slightly higher than conventional electric water heaters.
Bitcoin mining, the primary function of these water heaters, involves solving complex mathematical puzzles to acquire bitcoins. Equipped with application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), Superheat’s water heaters can efficiently mine bitcoins while simultaneously heating water. The price of bitcoin fluctuates, but at the time of writing, it hovers around $90,000.
As I observed a demonstration at Superheat’s booth, a 50-gallon water heater was actively mining bitcoin while providing hot water for a bathtub. The accompanying Superheat app displays the water temperature and the productivity of the bitcoin mining computer within the water heater. This innovative fusion of traditional appliances with cutting-edge computer technology is not only intriguing but also opens the door to the concept of interconnected ecosystems of water heaters functioning as a collective computing entity.
Imagine a network of hundreds or even thousands of water heaters operating collaboratively, mimicking the efficiency and capabilities of a centralized data center. Such networks could significantly impact energy consumption patterns, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective solutions in the AI industry and beyond. The underlying promise of Superheat’s water heaters goes beyond mere novelty to offer substantial potential for addressing energy challenges associated with intensive computing tasks, charting a new course for energy-efficient technology integration.
