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Comment by deepsun | Hacker News Reader

IMO noise pollution is the easiest one to solve: just put all the AC fans on the far side of the datacenter. If not enough, surround with noise absorbing panels. If not enough, just get a different fan design, more coolers, and run them at half speed. They can even afford Noctua :)

I bet nearby rail yard produces way more loud noises.

Datacenter is like the cleanest and most ecofriendly business you can imagine.

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Can noise that can be heard a kilometer away really not be heard from the other side of a building?

Noise absorbing panels block airflow, if you didn't know that. Useless for AC.

You don't need to block the airway. Air and sound move differently, so you absorb on paths that sounds likes to travel and minimize obstruction on the air path. Something akin to a Tesla valve.

I'm willing to bet that you can make the exhaust noise near inaudible if you want to. Problem is, it costs a couple 10k dollars or so, and why pay for that if you can just fuck over the neighbour instead?

Tesla valve noise cancellers are not a thing that exists. Why don't you go and invent them before telling the rest of us we should just buy them for $200 each?

The Potential of Tesla Valve Design on Acoustic Application https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-96-5063-7_...

Analysis of sound performance on Tesla valve principle-based model: Experimental and simulation approach https://doaj.org/article/8cfc59ce5f59454e856e5b2fb613372a

But I think even with just a basic understanding of physics its clear that something like this could work. It also does not have to be a Tesla valve precisely. There are all kinds of mufflers and some of them can no doubt be applied at industrial scale - if one is willing to pay a reasonable amount of money.

> Datacenter is like the cleanest and most ecofriendly business you can imagine.

Tell that to the residents of Memphis.

As I understand, initially, the power production was done on-site using gas turbines. Later, these were moved to Mississippi and a high voltage powerline connected the two sites. After this change, why is the Memphis data center not clean and ecofriendly for residents of Memphis?

You moved the goalpost. You said they are clean as could be. While temporary, sure, it was a horrific situation for the nearby residents.

Later is just as likely to never happen, as happen. Billionaires have promised all sorts of things to get tax breaks for the things they want and never followed through with the parts that benefited others.

Anything can be done so rushed and shitty that it has negative consequences.

Nothing that uses as much power as a modern data center is anywhere close to the most clean eco friendly business imaginable. Even one on 100% renewables, which most very much are not, is hurting the environment far more than many industries. Green energy isn't "free", it's just less harmful than the alternatives.

Ok, what large business would you say is more eco friendly?

A fun story, for electric generation, Washington state produces and exports a lot of electricity because they are blessed with convenient hydropower. But WA still don't want to build data centers for some reason, even though they a the best positioned to.

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