Loading ...And they are building 80 more. My electric bill went from 3 cents a kilowatt to 11 cents a kilowatt in less than 3 years. Home prices increased 70% in that same time period.
What does a data center actually sound like?
A hyperscale data center produces several distinct noise sources, all running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year:
Cooling towers and HVAC stacks — the largest continuous source. Typical property-line measurements range from 45 to 65 decibels (dBA) at the residential boundary, with the dominant frequency in the 100–500 Hz band. This is the “hum” residents describe.
Substation transformers — the 60-Hz hum of high-voltage equipment, typically 50–65 dBA at 50 feet from the transformer.
Diesel backup generators — not used continuously, but tested monthly. A typical 2-megawatt diesel generator produces 90–105 dBA at 25 feet during a load test, which is comparable to a chainsaw.
Construction noise — intermittent during the 2–5 year build phase, including pile-driving, concrete pours, and crane operations.