The potential for another modern technological boom is beginning to look more like a reality as Americans become more dependent on electronic devices. Rises in the popularity of remote work, the increased use of AI in serious business practices, and continued demand for data storage all play a role in driving the need for increased tech capabilities.
To meet these ever-rising needs, infrastructure must be put in place to handle the physical requirements of data storage. In the state of Indiana, there are over 70 data centers either active, under construction, or proposed. It is clear these facilities are destined to become an increasing presence in American lives. They will create jobs, improve data security, increase internet speeds, and enable businesses to expand their technological capabilities.
Nationwide, the current administration has identified that the country is lacking progress in this regard and plans to change that. The U.S. Department of Energy has recently announced the next step in the Trump administration’s plan to usher in a “golden age for American technological dominance.” The plan to accelerate data center infrastructure development ensures economic growth and increases data security.
But as with all good things, there are potential negative factors to consider.
Water consumption, noise pollution, and increased energy requirements are just a few of the concerns shared by American households located in towns close to proposed data center sites. Those concerns have been voiced in Indiana as well. This brings to the forefront questions regarding how these new data centers can be made more sustainable and environmentally friendly, reducing their impact on local inhabitants.
Water Consumption
Data centers, like all electrical devices, create heat when in operation. This presents a cooling dilemma that must be addressed in order to keep the multitude of units within a data center operating correctly. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) estimates that larger data centers can use water in amounts totaling hundreds of millions of gallons a year. Minimal information is available on water consumption in data centers as less than half that currently operate in the United States utilize a comprehensive system for tracking water usage. Once a tracking requirement is put in place, and benchmarks are set, engineers will be able to develop plans which will make data centers more water efficient. Until tracking water consumption becomes an industry wide requirement, however, engineers can only formulate solutions based on estimates. One proposed solution involves heat dissipating layout plans where vented floors, combined heat exhaust areas, and higher ceilings will work to draw heat away from servers as efficiently as possible.
The World Economic Forum has also suggested the use of specialized cooling practices in order to relieve the stress on local water supplies involving reusing and recycling water in a closed-loop cooling system.
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is another concern for residents regarding data centers. The cooling systems, generators, and ventilation fans of these facilities all create a significant noise footprint that can be harmful to humans and wildlife alike. In response to this issue, experts such as Josh Mahan of C&C Technology Group have begun to develop and propose noise reduction techniques to effectively reduce the sound produced by data centers.
These techniques include the use of soundproofing/acoustic treatments, cooling fan speed management, and alternative cooling solutions. Some companies are even exploring options for underwater data centers as both a cooling and noise reduction strategy. One factor that complicates the noise pollution issue is that there are no national standards for data center noise levels, and they are instead regulated by their applicable local ordinances.
Increased Energy Requirements
Data centers have the potential to cripple local power grids due to their extreme energy requirements. According to the EESI, the centers active within the United States in 2022 consumed around 17 gigawatts of power. This accounts for around 4.4% of the total energy used in the U.S. in 2022 EESI noted. The Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory’s report on data center energy usage predicts that the total energy requirement for data centers could reach almost 12% of the country’s total energy use by 2028. The U.S. Department of Energy has proposed and is working on solutions to combat this looming energy crisis by encouraging on sight power generation solutions, re-using retired coal facilities, and expediting their ultimate plan to “supercharge the electric grid.”
The development of data centers in the nation, and specifically in Indiana, will help drive forward growth and innovation in terms of expanding the capabilities and possibilities for business and industry. The key, however, to successful and sustainable data center development is a comprehensive plan to address the issues associated with their operation.
