#AI#GenerativeAI#LLMs#DataCenters#BigTech#Energy#WaterScarcity#FossilFuels#ClimateChange: "Large language models such as ChatGPT are some of the most energy-guzzling technologies of all. Research suggests, for instance, that about 700,000 litres of water could have been used to cool the machines that trained ChatGPT-3 at Microsoft’s data facilities. It is hardly news that the tech bubble’s self-glorification has obscured the uglier sides of this industry, from its proclivity for tax avoidance to its invasion of privacy and exploitation of our attention span. The industry’s environmental impact is a key issue, yet the companies that produce such models have stayed remarkably quiet about the amount of energy they consume – probably because they don’t want to spark our concern.
Google’s global datacentre and Meta’s ambitious plans for a new AI Research SuperCluster (RSC) further underscore the industry’s energy-intensive nature, raising concerns that these facilities could significantly increase energy consumption. Additionally, as these companies aim to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, they may opt to base their datacentres in regions with cheaper electricity, such as the southern US, potentially exacerbating water consumption issues in drier parts of the world. Before making big announcements, tech companies should be transparent about the resource use required for their expansion plans."
"New portable solar power plants make it easier than ever to go off-grid. An entire plant of solar panels can be folded into a single shipping container.The power plant is easily deployed – and folded up again when it needs to move on."
By weaving popsicle sticks together in a specific pattern, there is a build up potential energy (stored energy) in the bent and twisted sticks. When released from one end, this stored potential energy is converted into kinetic energy (energy of motion) as the sticks rapidly unfurl & fly through the air in a chain reaction. #science#physics#energy#engineering
'Closing in on the theoretical maximum efficiency, devices for turning heat into electricity are edging closer to being practical for use on the grid, according to University of Michigan research.
Heat batteries could store intermittent renewable energy during peak production hours, relying on a thermal version of solar cells to convert it into electricity later.'
Hello Mastodon, I know that a lot of you discuss the high environmental cost (such as energy use and water use) of AI and I hope that some of you could reply with authoritative publications/links regarding this problem! I want to try to convince an environmental science colleague #climatechange#AI#chatgpt#energy#technology#machinelearning#llm
An electrolyzer uses #electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen & it’s believed the 3 stations will help support a North Vancouver facility which liquefies upwards of 15 tonnes of hydrogen per day.
#Senate#Democrats opened an investigation on Thurs into #Trump’s meeting w/ #oil & #gas execs last month to determine whether Trump offered a “policies-for-money transaction” [#bribe ] when he asked for $1B for his 2024 campaign so he could retake the White House & delete #POTUS#Biden’s #climate#regulations.
The investigation is the 2nd congressional inquiry into the April 11 fund-raising dinner…. Trump told ~20 oil & gas execs that they would save far more than $1B in avoided #taxes & #legal fees after he repealed #environmental regulations….
We're not going to lie, we got a little misty-eyed pulling together this series of short interviews from some of our @pyOpenSci Editorial Board.
We hope these interviews inspire you not only in your Python endeavors, but to also consider volunteering with pyOpenSci! We're currently growing our Editorial Board, especially if you have domain expertise in either climate or energy 💜