What was once a quiet neighbourhood in southwest Michigan has become a source of constant frustration for one couple living beside a large data centre. Marjorie and Billy Finn say the facility’s relentless humming noise now dominates their daily lives, making it difficult to relax outdoors, sleep at night or even enjoy conversations in their own home. Comparing the experience to “living in a prison,” they claim the sound has driven away friends and family, diminished their quality of life and left them feeling trapped in the house they have called home for years.
Michigan couple say life changed after a data centre arrived
The dispute centres on a 30-megawatt Hyperscale Data facility in Dowagiac, a small city in southwest Michigan. The data centre began operating in 2022 after taking over a former industrial site, bringing with it rows of servers that require powerful cooling systems to run around the clock.The Finns, whose home sits directly across the road from the complex, say the constant humming started soon after the facility became operational. According to the couple, what was once a peaceful neighbourhood has become dominated by an industrial noise that never truly disappears.Billy Finn has spent years documenting the sound using a handheld decibel meter. He says noise levels outside his home have risen from around 52 decibels when the facility first opened to about 60–61 decibels today, with occasional readings reaching 78 decibels.Inside the house, the sound is less noticeable, but the moment doors or windows are opened, the steady hum becomes impossible to ignore. Billy has compared it to standing near a busy city street or hearing a passenger jet taxiing in the distance, except the noise continues day and night without interruption.Marjorie Finn says the constant background sound has affected her sleep and made spending time in the garden far less enjoyable. She also claims fewer friends and relatives now visit because of the noise.
Why data centres make so much noise
Although many people picture servers as the loudest part of a data centre, the biggest source of noise is usually the cooling infrastructure. Modern data centres contain thousands of computers that generate enormous amounts of heat, requiring industrial-scale fans, chillers and cooling towers to operate continuously.The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has intensified the issue. AI systems rely on densely packed, high-performance computer chips that consume more electricity and generate more heat than traditional servers. As a result, newer facilities often require even larger cooling systems capable of running throughout the day and night.
Residents say the issue goes beyond noise
The Finns are not the only residents raising concerns. Other homeowners living near the facility have filed a lawsuit alleging that the constant sound amounts to an unreasonable nuisance and has reduced their ability to enjoy their properties. The lawsuit also claims the operator failed to install sufficient sound barriers or other noise-reduction measures.The Finns chose not to join the legal action, but they share many of the same concerns. They worry the persistent noise has reduced the value of their home while making everyday life increasingly stressful.
Can constant environmental noise affect health?
While noise levels around 60 decibels are generally not high enough to damage hearing, health experts say long-term exposure to continuous environmental noise can still have consequences. Research has linked persistent background noise with sleep disturbance, elevated stress levels, reduced concentration and, over extended periods, an increased risk of cardiovascular problems in some people.Audiologists also note that steady mechanical sounds can feel especially intrusive because they lack the natural variation found in everyday environmental noise, making them harder for many people to ignore.
A growing challenge in the AI era
As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services continues to grow, hundreds of new data centres are being planned across the United States and other countries. While these facilities play a vital role in supporting modern technology, they are also bringing renewed attention to issues such as electricity consumption, water use and environmental noise.Communities are increasingly calling for stricter planning rules, greater setbacks from residential neighbourhoods and improved soundproofing to reduce the impact on nearby homes.
