alt.hn

3/30/2026 at 8:07:18 PM

Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of data centers

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/30/climate/data-centers-are-having-an-underrported

by campuscodi

3/30/2026 at 10:49:26 PM

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.

by chmod775

3/31/2026 at 12:50:15 AM

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

by saulpw

3/31/2026 at 1:23:04 PM

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!

by chmod775

3/31/2026 at 2:39:14 PM

Sorry, not getting it. Maybe you should start using AI to proofread your insufferable comments!

by saulpw

3/30/2026 at 9:04:41 PM

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

by quantified

3/30/2026 at 10:57:36 PM

Even the noise turns into heat

by TGower

3/31/2026 at 10:22:02 AM

Absolutely, just annoys the neighbors along the way.

by quantified