In the United States, a report has highlighted the noise nuisance a data centre can inflict on nearby residents. One local compares the constant sound to a vacuum cleaner running with a blocked filter. The company operating the data centre has already pledged remedies and is even offering to buy the homes of neighbours who remain unhappy.
As data centres proliferate, their electricity use and CO2 emissions are causing concern. Yet people living close to a data centre may also have to contend with significant noise pollution. US outlet WXYZ, an ABC affiliate, recently reported on the sound generated by a data centre in Dowagiac, Michigan. Previously focused on cryptocurrency, the site is gradually shifting towards AI and robotics. According to Futurism, it is a 30-megawatt data centre.
Data centre noise affecting Dowagiac residents
The video below gives a particularly clear impression of the whistling sound heard by neighbours. One resident says it resembles a very high-pitched vacuum cleaner with a clogged filter. The difference is that this vacuum-cleaner-like noise never stops, as the data centre operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “In the summer, when it is extremely hot like it is now, the fan noise is so loud that we cannot even stay outside for more than a few minutes without getting a headache,” she also said.
Subscribe to Presse-citron
Another resident, who lives directly opposite the data centre, says opening a window has become impossible. In response, the town has already set limits of 65 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night. However, WXYZ reports that the data centre operator has already received a fine for failing to comply with those thresholds. Residents have also launched a class action lawsuit.
Hyperscale Data’s response to the complaints
According to WXYZ, the town arranged a meeting in July between Dowagiac residents and William Horne, CEO of Hyperscale Data, the company operating the data centre. He pledged to introduce measures to lower the noise produced by the site. For instance, the company has bought adjoining land intended to provide a natural buffer that will help dampen the sound. It has also said that it could purchase neighbours’ properties if they are still dissatisfied.
Hyperscale Data also believes its move away from cryptocurrency towards AI will reduce the issue. “We have been operating in Dowagiac for five years and take the concerns recently raised by residents very seriously. As we complete our operational transition from cryptocurrency mining to computing infrastructure dedicated to AI and advanced robotics, we intend to help reduce overall noise levels in the area. Around half of the mining equipment is already offline, and we expect the remainder to be fully shut down within the next three months,” the company said in a statement relayed by WXYZ.
The statement also points to the employment benefits of these investments. Hyperscale Data says it expects to create 500 new jobs in the town over the next three years, including entry-level roles for people wishing to begin a technical career.
What we think
In any case, this story provides another argument for those who want to move data centres into space. It is worth noting that this is one of Elon Musk’s major projects for the coming years. The concept is to place AI servers in satellites similar to Starlink, enabling them to make the best possible use of solar energy and therefore reduce their impact on Earth’s environment.
Elon Musk is not alone in considering the idea, as Google is developing a similar project.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment