In a pioneering move towards sustainable computing, the post-production house Dirty Looks has forged a partnership with Deep Green, a specialist in heat re-use technology, to house a portion of its computing and storage needs in a data centre located within a public swimming pool in Exmouth, Devon. This innovative collaboration aims to harness the heat generated by the servers to efficiently warm the pool, providing a significant cost-saving and environmental benefit to the community.
Deep Green’s unique approach involves capturing the excess heat produced during server operations and redirecting it to heat the pool, effectively providing around 60% of the required pool heat for free. This initiative not only saves the pool more than £20,000 annually but also reduces carbon emissions by approximately 25.8 tonnes per year by minimizing reliance on fossil-fuel boilers.
The decision by Dirty Looks to transition the remainder of its computing and storage operations to Deep Green’s heat re-use data centres within the next 18 months underscores a commitment to sustainability in the film industry. This includes tasks such as real-time and overnight rendering, traditionally known for their high energy consumption.
Tom Balkwill, founder and managing director of Dirty Looks, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the potential of high-end computing to coexist with sustainability. By rendering films in data centres that recycle heat, the industry can play a significant role in benefiting local communities. Lowering energy bills for facilities like swimming pools and reducing fossil-fuel consumption contribute to a healthier and greener community environment.
Mark Bjornsgaard, founder and CEO of Deep Green, emphasized the necessity for change within the UK’s film industry, where traditional data centres are notorious for their inefficiency and energy consumption. By repurposing the excess heat generated by computing processes, Deep Green’s approach aims to deliver tangible social and environmental benefits to local communities, challenging the status quo of wasted energy and emissions.
The partnership between Dirty Looks and Deep Green represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainable computing practices. As the industry increasingly prioritizes environmental responsibility, initiatives like these showcase the potential for innovation to drive positive change, setting a precedent for future collaborations and advancements in sustainable technology.
