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If data center water use is such a concern, why not require that data centers invest in closed-loop cooling systems? By closed-loop, I'm talking about re-conden
by mrinterweb 5mo ago
If data center water use is such a concern, why not require that data centers invest in closed-loop cooling systems? By closed-loop, I'm talking about re-condensing evaporated water and allowing the water to cool. Cooling the water would be more expensive in hotter environments, but still achievable. These data centers seem to have wild amounts of money for investment, why not just mandate conservation requirements?
- throwatdem12311 5mo agoRegulating AI? America would never!
- tptacek 5mo agoData center water use is in fact not a valid concern.
- deleted 5mo ago[deleted]
- hnav 5mo agoThe tradeoff is power vs water. Water is currently cheaper.
- mbesto 5mo ago> These data centers seem to have wild amounts of money for investment, why not just mandate conservation requirements This IS the complaint.
- p_stuart82 5mo agoimo this is a pricing problem more than a cooling-design problem. datacenters get cheap clean water while locals pay for the pipes and grid upgrades.
- SoftTalker 5mo agoCondensing/cooling the water takes even more electricity though. So you're trading water savings for increased energy use. Maybe OK if it's all renewable, but in most areas it's not.
- anubistheta 5mo agoWe should just charge a fair price for water. Something that covers capital, operating, and decommissioning costs. No need to pass specific regulations or add legal complexity. It would solve itself. Imagine any other service saying "Oh no, we have too much demand, we need to make it illegal." Just put out bonds, and build up capacity.
- ssl-3 5mo agoFor places with plenty of water, that makes sense. Capacity can be increased. For places that don't have plenty of water, that becomes trickier: Capacity is finite.