Amazon tones down its data center noise after residents sound the alarm

Prince William Times ^ | 10/24/2023 | Peter Cary

[fruser1]

It’s been 18 months since residents of Great Oak, a 291-home subdivision south of Manassas, began to hear the mind-numbing noise—a low-pitched roar topped with a tinny screech—from a complex of Amazon data centers next door. Now, after many meetings with Amazon and costly engineering work, the data center operator has managed to reduce the sound by 10 decibels—cutting its loudness in half.

The saga also holds some lessons. One is that neighbors who want data centers to change their ways must be “determined and tenacious,’ said Browne. Another is it helps to get public officials involved. A third is that citizen demonstrations and heavy media coverage do not hurt.

And the last is that data centers don’t have to be noisy. They can be retrofitted to be quieter or they can be built quieter to start with.

One key date in the saga is May 16, 2022. That’s when John Biess and his wife Gloria called the county police to complain that the screech, hum and roar coming from the just-built data centers 600 feet to the north, behind a forest of oaks, were likely louder than the county’s nose ordinance allowed.

“The first officer that came over (and) he said, ‘Yeah, that's pretty loud,’” Biess recalled.

It was not just the Biesses and the police officer. Other residents said the non-stop noise made it difficult to sleep, gave them headaches and ruined outdoor activities. Some said it was worse at night—a point later confirmed by the Biess’s decibel meter, which detected up to 65 decibels of noise at night. (The county noise ordinance limits noise to 55 decibels at night in residential areas, but at the time exempted noise from cooling systems.)

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TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aitruth; datacenter; noise

[fruser1]

I see little info on data center noise. This article deals with one of those stories. Interesting to note, that PW County did come around to updating their noise ordinance to include data centers to some degree, but they have no plans to actually measure noise routinely as buildings are added. There is one guy in PW that uses his own computer model to estimate what noise would be but I would prefer actual sound and vibration measurements.

I think noise and vibration are the primary problem remaining with data centers at this point.

If they use closed-loop cooling systems, there is no water problem.

Grid operators are well aware of diminishing generation capabilities (thanks to eco nazis) and more sharply increasing generation requirements (thanks to data centers). They are already working w/the Feds on the particulars of having data centers use their own generation facilities. I guess you could say that that particular issue is being worked by "top men" :)

I don't know how that generation impacts noise/vibration and if they plan on mitigating it though.

Below are some links to FERC and grid operators if you want to look into the what's going on with them.

FERC

PJM

MISO

NYISO

ISO-NE

SPP

ERCOT

WPP

CAISO

[Gene Eric]

the effective propaganda of our enemies

don’t fall for it

[Signalman]

Too bad Americans living in Muslim dominated cities can’t turn down (or better yet, turn off) the “Call to Prayer alert that happens 5 times/day.

[balch3]

That noise sounds like money to me.

[whitney69]

Topic is chicken little screeches. Data centers typically generate noise levels ranging from 40 to 60 decibels around their exterior. Traffic noise and vacum cleaners are 60 to 70 deciples. And even traffic noise in a quiet residential neighborhood is 50 to 60 deciples.

In this case illustrated the thread stated:

“Now, after many meetings with Amazon and costly engineering work, the data center operator has managed to reduce the sound by 10 decibels—cutting its loudness in half.”

So the problem was listed at 20 deciples? They’re looking for a chance to make a problem out of nothing.

wy69

[Rockingham]

Friends of mine who have visited the area describe data center noise as unpleasant and disruptive, mostly coming from the massive air conditioning. There are fixes, but the owners and operators of data centers prefer to avoid the up front expense. Eventually, they will have to remedy the problem but prefer to book a few years of revenue first.

[fruser1]

So the problem was listed at 20 deciples?

No, 65 db at night as measured by the cops when they complained.

[roving]

I’ve seen quite a few videos of the noise things make. There’s also a video in Texas where it’s no longer dark out. Daylight 24/7.

[jroehl]

We were in Constantinople for a few weeks. When we would hear the “Call to Prayer” we would pretend to locate our weapons. It was hilarious.

[Mark]

Then this:
AeroVironment
Buying buildings and more in Simi Valley, CA
Makiing drones, etc...

https://digitaledition.simivalleyacorn.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=1d8fb416-c137-4c45-81d1-61d5a55448b5

[Mark]

Defense Contractor bottom left front page

[Paladin2]

I’m not sure that map reflects Electric COOPs.

Specifically, Basin Electric....

[Paladin2]

“20 deciples”

What dis Jesus and Mad Mo’ have to say about Data Prisons?

[Paladin2]

“20 deciples”

What did Jesus and Mad Mo’ have to say about Data Prisons?

[Paladin2]

[Paladin2]

The Common Use System (CUS) is a joint transmission system Basin Electric Power Cooperative participates in with Black Hills Power and Powder River Energy Corporation (PRECorp).

Things are not so simple on the ground...

[Nik Naym]

“So the problem was listed at 20 deciples? They’re looking for a chance to make a problem out of nothing.”

That’s not how decibels work. It’s not a linear equation.

If I remember correctly, every 3 Db is a an increase of 2 times. So if you increase the level 3 Db it is doubled, and if you increase it 6 Db it is doubled again, etc.

[Nik Naym]

“...increase it another 3 Db it doubles again”

Sorry about that.

Shouldn’t post a reply when in a migraine episode.

[Paladin2]

That Math Stuff has gotten “harder” since DIE came on the scene...

[fruser1]

According to the FERC site, those are ISOs and RTOs.

I wouldn’t presume it’s a comprehensive list.