Heating apparatus

A distributed computer network comprising a plurality of heating apparatuses in different domestic or commercial buildings, each apparatus comprising:

• a controller for determining whether or not there is a need for heating in the building;
• a computer system including a data store, a program store storing processor executable instructions, and at least one processor coupled to the data and program stores for executing the stored instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy;
• a thermal energy distribution means arranged for transferring the thermal energy from the computer system resulting from operation of said computer system;
• and
• a computer network interface means for coupling the computer system to a computer network,
• wherein the controller of each heating apparatus is arranged to operate the computer system to execute processor executable instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy, in response to the determination by the controller of there being the need for heating in the building, and wherein the computer system of each heating apparatus is arranged for executing processor executable instructions received over the computer network interface means in response to the detection of there being the need for heating in the building.

A method of heating a building using a computer system installed in the building, the computer system including a data store, a program store storing processor executable instructions, and at least one processor coupled to the data and program stores for executing the stored instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy, the method comprising:

• determining whether or not there is a need for heating in the building;
• in response to the determination of there being the need for heating in the building, operating the computer system to execute processor executable instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy;
• and
• transferring the thermal energy from the computer system resulting from operation of the computer system.