Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of data centers(cnn.com)
cnn.com
Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of data centers
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/30/climate/data-centers-are-having-an-underrported
8 comments
What is "500TW/h"? If you mean 500TWh, is that 500TWh/year?
If you think some more about it you'll figure it out from context.
I'll give you a hint though: It's a typo and the same sentence contains the word "annually".
At least now you know I don't use AI for my insufferable comments. Good luck!
I'll give you a hint though: It's a typo and the same sentence contains the word "annually".
At least now you know I don't use AI for my insufferable comments. Good luck!
Sorry, not getting it. Maybe you should start using AI to proofread your insufferable comments!
A data center that consumes 5GW produces 5GW of heat, yes? Or 4.8 GW of heat and 0.2 GW of noise. Roughly?
Let’s not forget Benn Jordan’s work identifying sonic pollution that is making people sick.
https://youtu.be/_bP80DEAbuo?si=d8ZZCMVa9txyopRs
https://youtu.be/_bP80DEAbuo?si=d8ZZCMVa9txyopRs
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.