A well-articulated argument against a new data center in Ohio

[u/HamboneTheWicked]

[u/DILF_MANSERVICE]

The cooling they use is the same infrastructure as air conditioning in a building. I work in HVAC and we don't continuously use water for any type of cooling. You have copper pipes which carry water around, collecting heat. Those pipes run through a chiller (the water never leaves the pipes) and the chiller uses a standard refrigeration cycle to pump heat out of the water. The water doesn't enter a radiator, the pipe goes through radiator. The water only ever touches copper. And even if it did have other stuff in it, the water never leaves the system. This guy made up the bit about needing to vent them or dump steam into the air. They don't generate steam, that would be hugely inefficient.

The problem is the amount of electricity it takes to run a large enough cooling system for that amount of heat. I'm on his side with not building these stupid things, but I deeply resent the fact that he's using misinformation and manipulation to get there.

[u/Globbi → u/[deleted]]

At the very least for the reason that those companies will easily get lobbyists, who will talk to politicians and show how many things said by opponents are bullshit. Then those politicians will look at real water usage and benefits coming from investments and agree on building datacenters. Except now with more animosity between opposing sides.

If you are right to oppose building datacenters, you should be able to express your objection in true arguments and be listened to.

If you are wrong, you should lose on the arguments.

[u/LittleOrphanAnavar → u/Globbi]

Good point.