The vast data centers that power artificial intelligence are so energy hungry that they’re heating up their surroundings, according to new research. It’s an alarming finding given the number of data centers is predicted to explode over the next few years.
Would be nice if they built them in cold climates and piped the heat to houses and buildings like the steam era of old.
“Like the steam era of old”? 🤣
What you’re describing is called district heating and is totally a thing in Europe. There actually are data centers in Europe that contribute to their local district heating grid.
Yep it’s how I heat my place, though 40-60% of the heat still comes from natural gas unfortunately.
Yep, that’s exactly how it is for us. I really hope that our local district heating company get’s tfe shift to renewals done because CO2 prices are rising in the next years and district heating is expensive enough as it is…
This would require investment in infrastructure, which is a completely foreign concept to american politicians when it’s not about adding one more lane
That’s exactly what Google did in Finland.
Microsoft also has a similar project.
Tax them enough to install geothermal heat pumps in the surrounding homes.
No one uses in ground heat pumps, especially not existing units where you have to dig up the yard, but regular air source heat pumps are still good enough by far.
Depends on the type. Newer ones drill a column and put the loop into that. They have to dig deeper, but it means you don’t have to dig up the entire yard for loops of tubing and means that you can install them in locations with limited yard space.
In-ground pumps are better, they’re just very expensive, hence the taxes.