Data Centers Can Make Neighborhoods Up to 4 Degrees Hotter, Study Finds
A recent study indicates that data centers can raise temperatures in nearby neighborhoods by up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat pollution, attributed to waste heat from the facilities, can exacerbate the urban heat island effect, particularly in cities already facing extreme heat challenges. Researchers emphasize the need for further measurements to fully understand the impact of these data centers on local climates.
- ▪The study measured heat pollution from data centers in Mesa and Chandler, Arizona.
- ▪Air temperatures downwind of these facilities were found to be up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit higher than upwind temperatures.
- ▪Data centers can produce more waste heat than 40,000 households, contributing to increased local temperatures.
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As data centers proliferate across the United States, scientists are scrambling to quantify their impacts on nearby communities. Studies have shown that these facilities strain local power and water supplies, drive up utility costs, and emit harmful pollutants. Now, research suggests their waste heat can actually crank up the temperature in downwind neighborhoods.cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"92b7b46b-43ed-4e0e-b21b-2c999302d9d7","settings":{"advertising":{"macros":{"AD_UNIT":"/23178111854/od.gizmodo.com/article","CHILD_UNIT":"article","POST_ID":"2000761977","POST_TYPE":"post","CHANNEL":"earther","SECTION":"energy","SUBSECTION":"","CATEGORIES":"energy","TAGS":"ai,data-centers,extreme-heat","NOP":"0"},"timeBeforeFirstAd":0}}}).render("cnx-player-main")}); The study, published…
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