Data Centers in Cheyenne:
What We Know
The facts; sourced and explained. No spin, just what we actually know so far.
Air, Water, or Both:
How Cooling Choices Shape Water Use
Not all data centers use water the same way. The cooling method a facility uses — not what the data center is used for — determines how much water it needs. Cheyenne's rules push developers toward the methods that use the least.
Three cooling methods, in plain terms
Air-Cooled Systems
Use fans and outside air instead of water to remove heat — no water goes into cooling at all. Data center equipment generally needs incoming air around 64–80°F, per industry standards (ASHRAE). In cold, dry conditions, some facilities add a small amount of moisture to the air to prevent static buildup — a separate system from cooling, using a smaller amount of water.
Closed-Loop Systems
Circulate the same water through sealed pipes, cooling and reusing it instead of releasing it. A closed-loop system consumes only a small fraction of the water it holds — most of it stays in the loop and is used again and again, with small losses to evaporation or leaks over time.
Evaporative (Open-Loop) Systems
Use water more directly, cooling equipment by evaporating it into the air. This is the standard method in hot, humid climates, but it uses far more water than closed-loop systems.