Could the Data Centers That Spike Your Energy Bill Soon Heat Your Office?

Data centers are renowned energy vipers. But some are transitioning into energy powerhouses that are heating local cities.

BY MELISSA ANGELL, SENIOR STAFF WRITER @MELISSKAWRITES

Illustration: Inc.; Photo: Getty Images

One large data center typically consumes about 100 megawatts of power annually—enough to heat 100,000 homes for a year. Historically, that’s been a one-way transaction, with data centers drawing heavily from local power grids while communities get little in return. Now, some operators are changing that equation, repurposing waste heat to warm nearby buildings and power local infrastructure, perhaps even........

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