How data centers could heat neighborhoods
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University of Colorado researchers say the heat generated by data centers could warm nearby buildings, saving water and energy costs.
Why it matters: As AI fuels a boom in data centers — and scrutiny of their energy and water use — researchers say the facilities' waste heat could become a resource instead of a burden.
Driving the news: Data centers use water to cool processors, but CU engineering professor Gregor Henze says that heat could be reused.
- He suggests sending excess heat through underground water pipes to nearby buildings, which would use heat pumps to extract it. The cooled water would then cycle back to the data centers, creating a loop.
Zoom in: Henze and graduate student Anneliese Fensch simulated a Chicago neighborhood with one data center, two hospitals and three apartment buildings with more than 200 units.
- The researchers found the waste heat from a single data center could supply more than enough heat for the surrounding buildings — even in Chicago's cold winter.
What they're saying: "Data centers are basically massive toasters," Henze said in a statement. "At the same time, buildings nearby might need heating. Why don't we move the rejected heat to where it's needed in the city?"
The big picture: Colorado communities are weighing limits on data centers, raising concerns about water and energy use. Researchers say systems like this could help reduce some of that strain, though the concept still needs real-world deployment.
The bottom line: If the model works in practice, data centers could shift from being seen only as infrastructure drains to potential neighborhood energy sources.
- "Data centers are developed almost everywhere," Henze said. "Part of our vision is that these facilities could actually provide a community service."