Every internet search, streamed video and AI-generated response depends on a data center somewhere. Driven by rapid growth in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cryptocurrency, data centers have become the backbone of the modern digital economy. But though their key role is in enabling virtual and remote experiences, data centers are physical buildings in real communities around the nation and the globe.
The United States hosts – . The U.S. Department of Energy expects that, taken together, all U.S. data centers will . In 2023, data centers consumed – roughly 176 terawatt-hours.
In the U.S., Virginia has more data centers than any other state – over 600, suburbs of Washington, D.C. In 2023, the state’s data centers consumed of Virginia’s total electricity supply – a higher share than in any other state.
We study , and , so we wanted to understand how data centers in Virginia and the broader public.
We found that the data centers that already exist affect nearby residents and the nation as a whole in five main areas: air quality, water quality, noise levels, land use and energy costs.
Air pollution
Data centers generally operate 24/7 and consume enormous amounts of electricity, which must be generated somewhere – either near the data center or farther away.
When fossil fuels are burned to generate that power, they , including those linked to lung disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke and neurological conditions. They also emit and climate change, which, in turn, further.
Generating power for U.S. data centers in 2023 emitted the of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Other air pollutants emitted from fossil-fuel combustion are associated with increased risk of and in children and risks of diseases in older adults.
Unless the energy powering data centers comes from clean energy sources, such as solar, wind or geothermal, generating that electricity also pollutes the air. People who live near fossil-fuel burning power plants, whether in communities that also host data centers or in distant states, are . And during electrical outages, kick in, releasing large amounts of air pollution that alike.
Water consumption and pollution
Data centers require to cool their servers. Globally, they are projected to consume between of water annually by 2027. In the United States, data centers already rank among the industrial water users.
In northern Virginia, data center water use has risen sharply. In Loudoun County alone, just northwest of D.C., potable water use by data centers , while facilities across northern Virginia consumed .
This demand can strain , even in regions like the mid-Atlantic that are not usually prone to drought, but especially in regions like the U.S. Southwest that face persistent droughts.
Noise pollution
Data centers’ , generate a persistent humming sound around the clock – as do any generators that are in use to provide power.
In northern Virginia, some residents have complained about an industrial-scale “drone” or “hum.” Measurements at the data centers that were the subject of complaints found noise levels were between on residential property.
Those noise levels are and not loud enough to damage people’s hearing or violate local noise ordinances. But they are close to levels the EPA says . Some people have complained that and concentrating, and some have said they avoid using their homes’ outdoor spaces, where the noise is louder.
Land use and community well-being
Data center expansion often targets land near where developers can secure affordable land with access to existing electricity supplies.
Converting green space into industrial facilities can diminish associated with being in and near natural environments, including opportunities for physical activity and .
In Virginia, residents living near data center construction have reported , which can contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular health risks, especially in children and older adults. While these effects are typical of large construction projects, they can be amplified when several data centers are clustered together.
In places like Prince William County, Virginia, developers have proposed data centers on of undeveloped land in the Rural Crescent, an area designated by the county’s planners to . Those data centers could transform open space and rural farmland into industrial zones, disrupting communities with .
Rising energy costs
As data centers increase electricity demand, they put upward pressure on energy prices across the grid. A 2024 Virginia legislative report found that the state’s by 2040 because of grid strain tied to data center growth – a 9% to 25% increase over current average bills, and a figure that does not factor in potential inflation.
These higher costs are paid by all consumers, but they place a greater burden on families that are most economically distressed, who also tend to have more . Lower-income families spend a higher share of their budget on electricity, and when bills rise, the consequences can include reduced access to adequate heating and cooling, increased risks of , as well as difficult choices between paying for energy and food or healthcare.
What can be done
Many of these health harms can be mitigated through better planning and design.
Increasing the share of renewable energy used to power data centers would help reduce air pollution and associated health harms.
Using recycled water in or racks rather than whole buildings can significantly reduce cooling energy demand, with some studies estimating reductions of .
On noise, a Leesburg, Virginia, data center by reengineering its fan mounts.
And on energy costs, requiring large-scale data centers to could help protect residential customers from higher electricity bills.
The world’s digital infrastructure runs through data centers, and that is not changing. We believe that expanding this infrastructure without protecting the health of surrounding communities is an unacceptable option.
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