Big Tech data centers are not only being used to power the internet but also to heat people’s homes. But who’s really winning when Facebook keeps you warm at night?
Since 2020, Meta’s hyperscale data center — spanning 50,000 square meters on an industrial estate on the edge of the city — has been pushing warm air generated by its servers into the district heating network under Odense. That heat is then dispersed through 100,000 households hooked up to the system, with Meta providing enough heat to cover roughly 11,000.
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This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Can you grow on it? Would be the first good thing that comes out of it…
This is actually a law in Denmark, so it’s something Facebook had to do.
Any new data centers build on Danish ground need to be hooked up to the central heating system, providing heat to the community.
Perfect use of resources.
“Perfect use of resources” might be overstating it a bit.
They took a waste product and used it to heat homes, sounds responsible and efficient.
Data center heat, with a little external help, warms homes of nearby residents. Nothing unusual or interesting.
Saved you a click.