We need to talk about data centres.

For the 2nd or 3rd time this week I've seen someone comment on a new data centre build with a stat about how 80% of data is never accessed. Then they talk about the energy and cooling used in modern DCs.

The reality is that data storage is actually incredibly efficient, and uses fuck all power. A hard disk is less than 10w and stores multiple users data.

Storing data, our photos, our memories, our history. Is not the problem.

What is? 1/n

@BashStKid British not-invented-here syndrome is incredibly infuriating.

@antonia @mw1cgg @tony @Porcia there was supposed to be a trial of it in the UK. And some lobbyist blew up my mentions evangelising it earlier this week. It's a stupid idea.

@antonia @mw1cgg @tony @Porcia I thought their strategy was to close all the nukes and burn coal and then be confused as to why their emissions are so high...

Wow. According to the hydrogen industry lobbyist in my mentions I've gaslit you all by suggesting that heat pumps are great.

Which is weird. Cos heat pumps are an amazing technology. There's even moves to develop air/air heat pumps they use propane as the refrigerant, so DIY installers can easily install them. But what's truly amazing about heat pumps is how they can scale. In the city of London they've installed a big ground source heat pump to drive district heating. It's awesome.