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Data centers guzzle Arizona's water and power. We calculated how much

Arizona Republic | February 4, 2026

The proliferation of data centers in Arizona raises concerns about the strain on the state's water and power resources. While power is a more immediate concern, the water usage of data centers varies widely depending on their cooling technology. Some data centers have operated for decades using water-intensive evaporative cooling, while others are investing in air-cooled systems. But these systems won't be able to keep up with future data center needs, said Renkun Chen, who researches heat transfer and cooling at the University of California San Diego. Full Story

A Cooler Data Center

American Society of Mechanical Engineers | February 3, 2026

As use of AI increases, the need for data processing and the home that allows it to happen is creating a "surge" in data center construction. That data processing generates tremendous amounts of heat, requiring cooling to prevent failure, and that cooling need accounts for up to 40 to 50 percent of a data center's overall energy use. This growth is expected to increase the total energy consumption used for data center cooling. Research by UC San Diego engineers shows that a new fiber membrane may hold the key to more efficient cooling in data centers. Full Story

2026 News Releases

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UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering