Johor is on track to become Malaysia’s data center powerhouse, with Selangor following in second place. Many data center projects have been operational and announced in both states over the past year, driven by global demand for AI data centers. Many are aware that data centers use high levels of electricity and water, and their cooling systems emit constant noise. But a recent study published in the Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities found that data centers also cause the surrounding area to heat up.
Data centers create “heat islands” due to the hot air released by their cooling systems. A data center in Mesa and Chandler, Arizona was found to raise the temperature of the surrounding area by up to 2°C (4°F). This warming effect can be felt within 500 meters of the data center’s perimeter. Data centers generate more heat than 40,000 homes. The cooling systems used also release air that is 8–14°C warmer than the surrounding air.
The findings of this study raise questions about the long-term impact of data centers being built near residential areas. In March, residents near the ZData Technologies data center construction site in Gelang Patah, Johor staged a demonstration because it was causing dust problems. Kota Iskandar assemblyman Pandak Ahmad has suggested that data centers should not be built near residential areas due to this issue. Previously, the only concerns were dust, power, water and noise, but now the temperature impact also needs to be considered before data center construction is allowed, especially near residential areas.
