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Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of data centers(cnn.com)
18 points by campuscodi 9 hours ago | 5 comments
chmod775 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

This simultanously reads like they are surprised that thermodynamics are real while also not understanding them.

Pretty much all electricity will end up as heat somewhere down the line. How localized that heating is initially does not matter much.

Also all the energy consumption of data centers in the world (~500TW/h) is not enough to heat the planet a billionth' of a degree annually. It simply does not register.

Global warming is not driven by the energy we convert into heat, that's miniscule. It's driven by changes in Earth’s atmosphere (and surface) that limit how effectively the planet can reflect incoming sunlight and release heat into space.

saulpw 4 hours ago | parent [-]

What is "500TW/h"? If you mean 500TWh, is that 500TWh/year?

e40 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Let’s not forget Benn Jordan’s work identifying sonic pollution that is making people sick.

https://youtu.be/_bP80DEAbuo?si=d8ZZCMVa9txyopRs

quantified 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

A data center that consumes 5GW produces 5GW of heat, yes? Or 4.8 GW of heat and 0.2 GW of noise. Roughly?

TGower 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Even the noise turns into heat