[sidewndr46]

But if we're going with the "heatpumps are more than 100% efficient" that everyone brings out, then running my computer to work & heat my room is far above 200% efficiency.

If I'm running my computer to use it & it keeps me warm, there is no way turning on a natural gas heater is going to reduce my costs.

[elil17]

Heatpumps are more than 100% efficient refers to a technical specification measure called efficiency, which is watts of heating per watt of energy input. For space heaters, electric furnaces, and your computer (/many other appliances), it’s always 100%. For modern gas furnaces it can be 90%ish (but the difference in electricity and gas prices mean that gas furnaces are still cheaper). For heat pumps it’s typically between 200% and 540%.

If you have a thermostat in your home, any appliances you use will reduce your heating usage because the thermostat will automatically decrease how much the furnace runs. So, yeah, it’s not wasteful to vent your computer exhaust outside in the winter, but no one’s doing that. On the other hand, it’s not worth it to run appliances you wouldn’t otherwise run unless you have an electric furnace, in which case it doesn’t matter.

[riceart77]

> So, yeah, it’s not wasteful to vent your computer exhaust outside in the winter, but no one’s doing that.

Uh, come again? If I am using my computer anyway - why would I exhaust the waste heat outside if I have to heat the indoors anyway? That is wasteful.

[elil17]

Oops I meant to say it is wasteful - typo

[sidewndr46]

Sure but why limit ourselves to "which is watts of heating per watt of energy input." Wouldn't "amount of useful work per watts of energy input" be OK? So if I am putting in 100 watts constantly to my PC I am getting 100 watts of heating & 1 unit of computing. Which is more than 100%