Henrico County is a major hub for data centers in Virginia. Its officials said it expects a 25% rise in electricity costs next year, and advised workers to close the blinds and turn off their computers to make up for it.

  • jumjummy@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    45
    ·
    20 hours ago

    California also has the stupidest water rights with “use it or lose” it clauses that counters any incentives to become more efficient. A couple families control a ridiculous amount of water rights.

    • Itizaj@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      6 hours ago

      The problem is that data centers don’t need water, they need cooling, and water is suitable for that because it’s the cheapest. They could do the cooling in many other ways, but it costs money

      • mig@lemmy.world
        cake
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        5 hours ago

        The other ways cost money, make noise, and consume more power.

        • titanicx@lemmy.zip
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          3 hours ago

          You mean cost more money. It’s not like water is free but it is very cheap to use. But those other ways to cool it cost quite a bit more electricity and aren’t nearly as efficient.

          • Itizaj@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            2 hours ago

            That’s what I meant, sorry, english is not my native language, but yes, water is the cheapest of all solutions

    • TrippingBalls@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      7 hours ago

      That’s typically how the government operates as well. No incentive to use funding wisely and decrease spending