# Literature Review Assignment: Energy Use in Data Centers ## Assignment Paragraph Write a short literature review on energy use in data centers. Your goal is to identify what current research says about why data centers consume large amounts of electricity, how this energy use is measured, and what strategies are being proposed to reduce environmental impact while supporting growing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services. Your review should be approximately 500–700 words and should synthesize at least three credible sources rather than simply summarize them one by one. ## Learning Objectives By completing this assignment, you will be able to: 1. Explain the main factors that contribute to energy consumption in data centers. 2. Identify and evaluate credible academic, industry, or government sources on data center energy use. 3. Synthesize multiple sources into a coherent short literature review. 4. Connect technical infrastructure decisions to broader environmental and social implications. ## Learning Activity Find at least three credible sources about energy use in data centers. At least one source should be scholarly or from a recognized research organization, and the others may come from academic journals, government agencies, industry reports, or reputable technology publications. As you read, take notes on recurring themes such as cooling systems, server utilization, renewable energy, AI workloads, carbon emissions, or efficiency metrics such as Power Usage Effectiveness. Then write a brief literature review that compares the sources, identifies major areas of agreement or disagreement, and ends with one question for future research. ## Assessment Your submission will be assessed on the following criteria: - **Source quality:** Uses at least three credible and relevant sources. - **Synthesis:** Compares ideas across sources instead of listing summaries separately. - **Clarity:** Presents ideas in organized, readable prose. - **Conceptual understanding:** Accurately explains key issues related to data center energy use. - **Reflection:** Ends with a thoughtful research question or unresolved issue.