Let’s put this waste to good use!

Data centers use 1.3% of the world’s power. Half of the energy used in data centers is for the sole purpose of keeping computers and servers from overheating! That’s right. The energy required to keep computer chips cool matches the energy required for computing. If only there was a way to recycle this heat . . .

An article from technologyreview.com highlights five organizations that have found use for the excess heat created by data centers. For example, the University of Notre Dame directs the heat from its servers into a greenhouse. Simultaneously, air is pulled from outdoors to cool the servers. This method not only puts heat waste to good use, but reduces the cost of heating the greenhouse. Imagine if more organizations found ways to turn something wasteful into something useful!

Greenhouse Effect: 5 Ideas for Reusing Data Centers’ Waste Heat