Is The Hum From Data Centers Disrupting Our Quiet Neighborhoods?
There's been a lot of pushback against data centers from the public. People are worried about water usage, energy costs, light pollution, and even noise pollution. So how loud are data centers? I saw a recent video posted of an unbearably loud hum in a neighborhood caused by a data center. Are they really that loud?
Air-cooled Data Centers VS Water-cooled Data Centers
It depends on the type of cooling a data center is using. In places without access to fresh water, they are air-cooled, which is much noisier than water-cooled data centers. The air-cooled data centers use fans (and lots of them) to cool the processing equipment. The decibel levels for air-cooled are around 60-80 decibels. That's loud.
What The Noise Levels Compare To
Anything long-term over 85 dBs can cause hearing loss. It's similar to the sound of a gas lawnmower running. 70 decibels is what it sounds like living next to a busy freeway.
Data centers that use water-cooled systems are quieter, but still make noise. Those data centers create decibel levels of 40-60 decibels. 40 decibels is about the same volume as a refrigerator humming, but if you go up to 60 decibels, it's about the volume of a dishwasher running.
Read More: Minneapolis Considers Bathhouses, But Duluth Has Had One Forever
Our abundant freshwater and infrastructure make our area an ideal place to put data centers. Proponents of data centers say it will bring jobs and help the local economy. Opponents don't want to see our environment and lifestyle impacted by large industrial buildings. They also worry our energy costs will continue to rise and our property values will decrease.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker
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