Nvidia’s Rubin generation reference design uses 100% liquid cooling to reduce water consumption, but doesn’t address construction costs or power generation requirements. By running servers hotter, Nvidia can cut water use to ‘near zero’, a move similar to Amazon’s mostly air-cooled data centers. This design allows for more flexibility in outdoor temperatures and reduces heat loss. Nvidia’s head of sustainability says the reference design can achieve a 100% reduction in water usage, from 2.6 million gallons per megawatt per year. Why it matters: This design could be a game-changer for the industry, as data centers are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.