Google Switches First Botetourt Data Center to Air Cooling

Google will use air cooling rather than water cooling in the first of three planned buildings at its Botetourt Center at Greenfield data center campus in Virginia. The company says the redesign will reduce site water consumption, while the cooling systems for the remaining two buildings and updated campus-wide water-use estimates remain undecided. Local officials welcomed added certainty for the project, but residents and advocacy groups continue to seek enforceable water, energy, noise, and environmental details.