Waste heat from data centers can boost air temperatures in downwind neighborhoods by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit, researchers at Arizona State University report in a new study conducted in the Phoenix metro area, the hottest in the U.S. “As we do more measurements under different kinds of atmospheric conditions, I think we’re going to see more significant impacts around data centers,” said lead author David Sailor. With hundreds of megawatts of data center capacity operating in many cities, and thousands more proposed, the combined impact on urban temperature could be substantial. U.S. data center capacity is projected to more than double by 2030.

Full study : Arizona State University study: waste heat from Phoenix-area data centers raised downwind neighborhoods’ air temperatures by up to 4°F above upwind temperatures.