The product page doesn’t mention the actual size of the screen, but you would surely burn to death trying to watch anything on this. Outside of that bizarre addition, the Poseidon from Chillchaser has a lot going for it. Features include: carbon fibre heating tubes that reduce power consumption and cut emissions by up to 50 per cent, standard 220V-240V electric supply instead of gas, 4m heating area at a 110-degree angle, replaceable elements that last up to 8000 hours, safety auto shut-off and durable all-weather construction.

Poseidon will set you back about $1500, but you could always forgo the useless media player and spend half that (or less) on Chillchaser’s other models. [Chillchaser via Appliancist]

An interesting article in the New York Times points out that the success of Roll-n-Glow space heaters is due, in large part, to the involvement of the Amish. These pricey space heaters have the look and feel of a real fireplace, and the marketing blitz that highlights the Amish craftsmanship involved with each heater significantly increases the quality credibility. As it turns out, many of these marketing campaigns have been a bit on the shady side—making it appear that the entire unit was an Amish invention, crafted from start to finish using their skilled labour. In reality, they are only involved with the mantles.

Naturally, many have condemned Heat Surge, the company behind the Roll-n-Glow, claiming that they are exploiting a decent, God-fearing community. But one has to wonder—who is really being exploited here? The Amish are probably making a killing. The overwhelming success of this campaign has spawned imitators and put the Amish on the technology map. Perhaps Roll-n-Glo is just the first step in building an Amish technology empire. In the future we will all be clamoring to a press event held in a barn, where Jacob will deliver a keynote on a new hand-crafted line of wooden mobile phones that make crystal clear calls and protect us from Satan. [NYT]

The enhanced surface area of the blocks helps to spread heat more effectively, and each brick has a double plumbing connection—one for the heating system and one that allows you to snap together the bricks like actual Legos. How much all of this will cost to install is unknown—but nothing this nerdy ever comes cheap. [Scirocco via Trendir via DVICE]

The beauty of a thermoelectric device is that it has no moving parts, making it extremely durable and easy to produce. The high durability means students were able to install it in flues at the cogeneration plant, where it will capture waste heat and use it to create more energy for the campus air conditioning, heating and electricity. Eventually, the team hopes to install the device in the waste heat nirvana, hot water pipes, which could ramp up that 80% number a few more percentage points.

In addition to increasing the efficiency of the MIT campus, the device could also have an effect on the environment by trapping waste heat before it’s ejected into the atmosphere as exhaust. And after that, home heating in general could be revolutionised as consumers install the device in their home furnaces.

Ultimately, said Daniel Kraemer, graduate students in mechanical engineering, this simple device could work anywhere there’s excess heat. Gizmodo writers are pretty full of hot air, Kraemer, why don’t we start here? [MIT]

At second glance you might wonder about those pipes. And then you might realise it’s actually a radiator, built entirely from 90-degree pipe pieces. It’s designed to be a sculptural heater that fits in with any interior, according to designer Vivien Muller. At least there’s some physics in there, though: a large surface area heater like this would be a good compromise between heating efficiency and compact size.

One thing, though: Vivien can’t do much of the cleaning at home… can you imagine the dust this thing would collect? Just a concept. [Vivien Muller via Yanko designs]