Data centers face a growing challenge that extends beyond securing electricity, land and computing equipment: earning the acceptance of the communities around them. As artificial intelligence accelerates infrastructure investment, operators must confront concerns about water consumption, noise pollution, land use and pressure on municipal power networks. Johnson Controls believes the technology required to address several of these concerns already exists, although widespread adoption will depend on whether operators trust newer engineering approaches enough to incorporate them into their facilities. The building technology company sees an opportunity to change the relationship between large computing facilities and their surrounding communities through improvements in cooling systems, compressor performance, equipment density and waste-heat recovery.