<story><title>Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater</title><url>http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/want-an-energyefficient-data-center-build-it-underwater</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>jefflombardjr</author><text>I&amp;#x27;m all for exploring new approaches, however:&lt;p&gt;a) Salt water is highly corrosive. Wouldn&amp;#x27;t maintenance costs be high?&lt;p&gt;b) Isn&amp;#x27;t marine biology highly sensitive to heat pollution?&lt;p&gt;For high latency services like Amazon Glacier, wouldn&amp;#x27;t it make sense to host in a place like Iceland? Really cheap hydrothermic&amp;#x2F;clean power. Highly educated local talent pool, and relatively consistent cool temperatures. If you&amp;#x27;re maintaining 80F (&lt;a href=&quot;http:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.datacenterknowledge.com&amp;#x2F;archives&amp;#x2F;2008&amp;#x2F;10&amp;#x2F;14&amp;#x2F;google-raise-your-data-center-temperature&amp;#x2F;&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;http:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.datacenterknowledge.com&amp;#x2F;archives&amp;#x2F;2008&amp;#x2F;10&amp;#x2F;14&amp;#x2F;googl...&lt;/a&gt;) the ambient temps outside should provide ample cooling year round.&lt;p&gt;For lower latency requirements, wouldn&amp;#x27;t it be worth it to install efficient cooling powered by electricity? (preferably renewable) With cheap solar who really cares about grid power loss and associated inefficiencies?&lt;p&gt;Essentially, I think it makes sense to get better at solar than to have Steve Zissou as a server admin.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>stcredzero</author><text>&lt;i&gt;Essentially, I think it makes sense to get better at solar than to have Steve Zissou as a server admin.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;p&gt;1) In the original article, these server farms would be remote administration only.&lt;p&gt;2) Such facilities would make the secret construction of one&amp;#x27;s James Bond Villain underwater base much, much easier. (Wouldn&amp;#x27;t Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Peter Thiel all make great Bond villains?)</text></comment>
<story><title>Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater</title><url>http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/want-an-energyefficient-data-center-build-it-underwater</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>jefflombardjr</author><text>I&amp;#x27;m all for exploring new approaches, however:&lt;p&gt;a) Salt water is highly corrosive. Wouldn&amp;#x27;t maintenance costs be high?&lt;p&gt;b) Isn&amp;#x27;t marine biology highly sensitive to heat pollution?&lt;p&gt;For high latency services like Amazon Glacier, wouldn&amp;#x27;t it make sense to host in a place like Iceland? Really cheap hydrothermic&amp;#x2F;clean power. Highly educated local talent pool, and relatively consistent cool temperatures. If you&amp;#x27;re maintaining 80F (&lt;a href=&quot;http:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.datacenterknowledge.com&amp;#x2F;archives&amp;#x2F;2008&amp;#x2F;10&amp;#x2F;14&amp;#x2F;google-raise-your-data-center-temperature&amp;#x2F;&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;http:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.datacenterknowledge.com&amp;#x2F;archives&amp;#x2F;2008&amp;#x2F;10&amp;#x2F;14&amp;#x2F;googl...&lt;/a&gt;) the ambient temps outside should provide ample cooling year round.&lt;p&gt;For lower latency requirements, wouldn&amp;#x27;t it be worth it to install efficient cooling powered by electricity? (preferably renewable) With cheap solar who really cares about grid power loss and associated inefficiencies?&lt;p&gt;Essentially, I think it makes sense to get better at solar than to have Steve Zissou as a server admin.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>longerthoughts</author><text>&amp;gt; b) Isn&amp;#x27;t marine biology highly sensitive to heat pollution?&lt;p&gt;Impact on the marine environment is briefly mentioned in the last couple of paragraphs of the article, although they&amp;#x27;re a little dismissive and don&amp;#x27;t provide any evidence supporting their claim of negligible impact.</text></comment>