Energy From Data Centers Can Heat Public Pools
Listen to the article (New Zealand accent)
It might be possible to use small data centers to sustainably heat public swimming pools. In Devon County in the UK, a data center about the size of a laundry machine was installed under a swimming pool. There are plans to test this idea at seven other pools in the UK.
It’s a useful partnership that solves problems for both public pools and data centers. Computers make a lot of heat when they use electricity, so data centers have to cool them down. Pools need to be warm, but it costs a lot of money to heat them. Many pools in the UK have closed because of increasing energy costs.
Deep Green is a tech company that is providing data centers for swimming pools. The CEO of Deep Green, Mark Bjornsgaard, says that 97% of the electricity used by computers is released as heat.
Data centers use a lot of energy and water to cool their computer equipment. That’s why companies like Microsoft have tried building data centers underwater and in baths to reduce their environmental impact.
At the pool in Devon County, the data center can heat the pool to 30° Celsius about 60% of the time.
By using the data center for heat, the pool doesn’t need to use the gas boiler so often. The pool decreased gas consumption by 62%, according to Deep Green. Using less gas will also decrease CO2 emissions.
This partnership can also help data centers and pools save money on energy costs.
Vocabulary26 words
- Might be possible
- there is a chance something can happen or be true, but it's not certain/sure; something is maybe possible, but it's not guaranteed/definite
- Data center
- a large building that has many computers for storage
- Sustainably
- a way/method that doesn't harm/damage the environment or use a lot of natural resources; eco-friendly
- Heat
- to make warm; to make hotter
- Public
- general people, all people, citizens; available for all people; open to everyone
- Laundry machine
- a machine for washing clothes; washing machine
- Install
- to put something in place so that it is ready to use; to set up for use or service
- Test
- to do something to learn if it is safe, works correctly, etc.; try out
- Partnership
- to have an agreement to work together; to be partners
- Solve
- to find an answer; to find an explanation; to create a way to fix a problem; answer; work out
- Electricity
- power, current, energy used to operate lights, TVs, etc.
- Cool
- to make cool; to make colder
- Increase
- to go up; to make something larger; to make more of; expand
- Energy
- fuel; electricity; power; oil
- Tech company (technology)
- a company that makes new technology or software; a company with digital services or products
- Provide
- to give or supply something that is needed or requested
- CEO (Chief Executive officer)
- the top person in a large company; president; boss
- Release
- make available to everyone; launch; put on the market
- Equipment
- machines; tools; gear; hardware
- Reduce
- to make less; make smaller; decrease; bring down; shrink
- Environmental impact
- The effect that something has on the environment/natural world, including the air, water, and land; how something changes or is related to the natural world/environment
- Gas boiler
- A machine that burns gas to heat water for a building's heating or hot water system
- Consumption
- the action of using something; the amount of something that is used or eaten
- According to
- as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- a colorless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon; a greenhouse gas
- Emissions
- gas, heat, or light that is released or sent out; often refers to pollution from burning fuel
Discussion questions
- What do you think about the idea of using small data centers to heat public swimming pools? Do you think this is a sustainable solution for both data centers and public facilities?
- Would you be willing to pay more for a service or product that is environmentally friendly? Why or why not?
- Do you think it's the responsibility of companies to be environmentally conscious and reduce their impact on the environment? Why or why not? If not companies, then who?
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