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Hacker News·12d ago·5 min read
Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electricity they use
TL;DR
A study reveals that most European data centers, particularly in the Netherlands, are not transparent about their water and electricity usage, despite legal obligations. Only a small fraction of these centers disclose their environmental impact data.
✦ Why It Matters
Consider advocating for greater transparency in data center operations to promote environmental accountability.
Key Takeaways
- Investigate your data center's compliance with reporting regulations.
- Consider the environmental impact of your data center operations.
- Stay informed about energy consumption trends in your region.
- Advocate for transparency in data center resource usage.
Full Summary
A recent study by Lighthouse Report, in collaboration with Trouw and other media, found that the majority of European data centers, especially in the Netherlands, keep their environmental impact data secret. Despite the European Energy Efficiency Directive mandating data centers with a capacity of at least 500 kilowatts to report their energy and water consumption, compliance is low.
In the Netherlands, only 104 out of 186 eligible data centers have reported any data, with public figures available for less than a quarter of them. Data centers consumed 5.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the Netherlands in 2024, accounting for 4.6% of the country's total electricity use, a figure projected to rise to 10-15% by 2030.
While water usage is less documented, it is estimated to represent about 0.1% of total consumption, highlighting the need for better resource management amid climate concerns.