Month: September 2024

The Hot New Trend in Commercial Real Estate? Renting to Data Centers

U.S. real estate developers “are having a hard time keeping up with demand,” reports the Los Angeles Times, “as businesses in search of secure spots for their servers rent nearly every square foot that becomes available…”

Construction of new data centers is at “extraordinary levels” driven by “insatiable demand,” a recent report on the industry by real estate brokerage JLL found. “Never in my career of 25 years in real estate have I seen demand like this on a global scale,” said JLL real estate broker Darren Eades, who specializes in data centers…

The biggest drivers are AI and cloud service providers that include some of the biggest names in tech, such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Oracle. With occupancy in conventional office buildings still down sharply following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and property values falling, data centers represent a rare ripe opportunity for real estate developers, who are pursuing opportunities in major markets like Los Angeles and less urban locales that are served by plentiful and preferably cheap power needed to run data centers. “If you can find a cluster of power to build a site, they’ll come,” Eades said of developers. Construction is taking place at an “extraordinary” pace nationwide and still not keeping up, the JLL data center report said. [Data center] “Vacancy declined to a record low of 3% at midyear due to insatiable demand and despite rampant construction.”

Development increased more than sevenfold in two years, with the pipeline of new projects leveling off in the first half of 2024, a potential signal that the U.S. power grid cannot support development at a faster pace. But when projects currently under construction or planned are complete, the U.S. colocation market, in which businesses rent space in a data center owned by another company for their servers and other computing hardware, will triple in size from current levels… Real estate investors and landlords are being drawn into the market because demand from tenants is high and they are likely to renew their leases after shouldering the costs of setting up data centers. “They invest in their space and in your space and they tend to stick around longer,” said Mark Messana, president of Downtown Properties, which owns offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. “As we all know, the office market is struggling a little bit, so it’s nice to be able to have some data customers in the mix…”

Power demand for computing is growing so intense that it threatens to strain the nation’s electrical grid, sending users to remote locations where power is plentiful and preferably cheap. Data center developers are working in Alabama, the Dakotas and Indiana, “traditionally states that wouldn’t have data centers,” Eades said.

The article includes “the mother of all data centers” in the western U.S. — a 30-story building where “thousands of miles of undersea fiber-optic cables disappear into an ordinary-looking office tower.” Once a prestigious location for businesses, “The recent departure of a law firm that had been in the building more than 50 years cleared out five floors that will quickly be re-leased to data tenants, said Eades, who represents the landlord…”

To retrofit the building for data centers, “two elevators were removed so the empty shafts could hold water pipes used to help keep the temperature cool enough for the heat-producing servers” — and developers are happy rents “can be double what they are at newer downtown office high-rises, according to real estate data provider CoStar…

“By 2030, data centers could account for as much as 11% of U.S. power demand — up from 3% now, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

U.S. real estate developers “are having a hard time keeping up with demand,” reports the Los Angeles Times, “as businesses in search of secure spots for their servers rent nearly every square foot that becomes available…”

Construction of new data centers is at “extraordinary levels” driven by “insatiable demand,” a recent report on the industry by real estate brokerage JLL found. “Never in my career of 25 years in real estate have I seen demand like this on a global scale,” said JLL real estate broker Darren Eades, who specializes in data centers…

The biggest drivers are AI and cloud service providers that include some of the biggest names in tech, such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Oracle. With occupancy in conventional office buildings still down sharply following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and property values falling, data centers represent a rare ripe opportunity for real estate developers, who are pursuing opportunities in major markets like Los Angeles and less urban locales that are served by plentiful and preferably cheap power needed to run data centers. “If you can find a cluster of power to build a site, they’ll come,” Eades said of developers. Construction is taking place at an “extraordinary” pace nationwide and still not keeping up, the JLL data center report said. [Data center] “Vacancy declined to a record low of 3% at midyear due to insatiable demand and despite rampant construction.”

Development increased more than sevenfold in two years, with the pipeline of new projects leveling off in the first half of 2024, a potential signal that the U.S. power grid cannot support development at a faster pace. But when projects currently under construction or planned are complete, the U.S. colocation market, in which businesses rent space in a data center owned by another company for their servers and other computing hardware, will triple in size from current levels… Real estate investors and landlords are being drawn into the market because demand from tenants is high and they are likely to renew their leases after shouldering the costs of setting up data centers. “They invest in their space and in your space and they tend to stick around longer,” said Mark Messana, president of Downtown Properties, which owns offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. “As we all know, the office market is struggling a little bit, so it’s nice to be able to have some data customers in the mix…”

Power demand for computing is growing so intense that it threatens to strain the nation’s electrical grid, sending users to remote locations where power is plentiful and preferably cheap. Data center developers are working in Alabama, the Dakotas and Indiana, “traditionally states that wouldn’t have data centers,” Eades said.

The article includes “the mother of all data centers” in the western U.S. — a 30-story building where “thousands of miles of undersea fiber-optic cables disappear into an ordinary-looking office tower.” Once a prestigious location for businesses, “The recent departure of a law firm that had been in the building more than 50 years cleared out five floors that will quickly be re-leased to data tenants, said Eades, who represents the landlord…”

To retrofit the building for data centers, “two elevators were removed so the empty shafts could hold water pipes used to help keep the temperature cool enough for the heat-producing servers” — and developers are happy rents “can be double what they are at newer downtown office high-rises, according to real estate data provider CoStar…

“By 2030, data centers could account for as much as 11% of U.S. power demand — up from 3% now, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Quordle today – hints and answers for Monday, September 30 (game #980)

Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #980) – hint #1 – Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #980) – hint #2 – repeated letters

Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #980) – hint #3 – uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #980) – hint #4 – starting letters (1)

Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #980) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)

What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?

• C

• T

• T

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #980) – the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today’s Quordle, game #980, are…

CRUSHTARDYTEACHSTUMP

Today’s Quordle was a very easy one for me, and probably for you too. My three set start words, STARE, DOILY and PUNCH, gave me all five letters for three of the quadrants and four for the other one, so my task was simply a matter of solving three anagrams and then adding one more letter to the bottom right. The Daily Sequence was just as straightforward; a stark contrast to yesterday’s game.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #980) – the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #980, are…

SNAKEBULKYBUDDYCHART

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #979, Sunday 29 September: SERIF, BORNE, WRITE, SLEEKQuordle #978, Saturday 28 September: BUSHY, CIVIC, SNOUT, EQUIPQuordle #977, Friday 27 September: GUEST, CHASM, ROOST, BASALQuordle #976, Thursday 26 September: STAGE, VOGUE, CLUMP, HEATHQuordle #975, Wednesday 25 September: UMBRA, DADDY, GLAZE, PRANKQuordle #974, Tuesday 24 September: SPACE, INNER, SPAWN, BEGATQuordle #973, Monday 23 September: GUILT, STERN, ANNEX, FIELDQuordle #972, Sunday 22 September: ZESTY, MEATY, ALIVE, DRAWNQuordle #971, Saturday 21 September: VITAL, FRAIL, SPEAR, EERIEQuordle #970, Friday 20 September: ELIDE, DITTO, SHAWL, BONUSQuordle #969, Thursday 19 September: MARRY, OWING, DICEY, LUCKYQuordle #968, Wednesday 18 September: CEDAR, VENOM, MIGHT, MEDICQuordle #967, Tuesday 17 September: ETHOS, COUNT, PRINT, THREEQuordle #966, Monday 16 September: ROUGE, SWAMP, FUGUE, UNDUEQuordle #965, Sunday 15 September: VILLA, SMOKE, BULKY, THRUMQuordle #964, Saturday 14 September: ESSAY, GENRE, WIMPY, CHUTEQuordle #963, Friday 13 September: LEANT, ORGAN, FILLY, PLAITQuordle #962, Thursday 12 September: ARBOR, STARK, LEAVE, GOOFYQuordle #961, Wednesday 11 September: ROUGH, CACTI, SAVOY, ODDERQuordle #960, Tuesday 10 September: PLUMB, SEIZE, EARLY, ASSET

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NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Monday, September 30 (game #211)

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, including the spangram.

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #211) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Words with weight

NYT Strands today (game #211) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

METERCUTERSLATESTALEFLEAEXIT

NYT Strands today (game #211) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

Pugilism

NYT Strands today (game #211) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First: right, 4th row

Last: left, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #211) – the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #211, are…

HEAVYMIDDLEFEATHERLIGHTWELTERBANTAMCRUISERSPANGRAM: BOXING

My rating: ModerateMy score: Perfect

I’ve marked this one as moderate rather than easy, despite the fact that I solved it with no issues, because if you don’t watch or know about BOXING you’ll probably have found this a lot harder than I did. I’m not a massive fan these days, but I used to watch it a lot in my youth, back when the likes of Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield dominated the HEAVYweight division.

HEAVY is one of the easier words here; you might well have struggled far more with something like BANTAM, CRUISER or worst of all WELTER. So I suspect today’s game will see plenty of easy solves like mine, and plenty where people either needed lots of hints or failed outright.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday 29 September, game #210)

SQUASHPUMPKINONIONAPPLERADISHKOHLRABISPANGRAM: FALLHARVEST

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

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NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Monday, September 30 (game #477)

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #477) – today’s words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s NYT Connections words are…

DOROTHYROAMROSESTEAMVANILLASOPHIASHAGGYBLANCHCHARLIEBOILКЕТОMUSKAMBERGRISWALLACESOULPOACH

NYT Connections today (game #477) – hint #1 – group hints

What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?

Yellow: Stove-top cookingGreen: Smells goodBlue: Pet parentsPurple: Sounds like somewhere

Need more clues?

We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #477) – hint #2 – group answers

What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: COOK WITH HEAT AND WATERGREEN: COMMON PERFUME INGREDIENTSBLUE: CHARACTERS WITH PET DOGSPURPLE: CAPITAL CITY HOMOPHONES

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #477) – the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Connections, game #477, are…

YELLOW: COOK WITH HEAT AND WATER BLANCH, BOIL, POACH, STEAMGREEN: COMMON PERFUME INGREDIENTS AMBERGRIS, MUSK, ROSE, VANILLABLUE: CHARACTERS WITH PET DOGS CHARLIE, DOROTHY, SHAGGY, WALLACEPURPLE: CAPITAL CITY HOMOPHONES KETO, ROAM, SOPHIA, SOUL

My rating: HardMy score: Fail

This is my first Connections fail in a month, but I’m not devastated – because this is a tough one. That said, I’m annoyed that I didn’t solve blue or purple, because once I saw the answers I realized that I knew them both and could have got them; I’m less bothered when the answer is revealed and I think ‘Well, fine, I had no idea about that!’

This wasn’t the case here: I’ve heard of all four CAPITAL CITY HOMOPHONES – KETO (Quito), ROAM (Rome), SOPHIA (Sofia), SOUL (Seoul) and have watched all four shows/movies for the CHARACTERS WITH PET DOGS group – CHARLIE (Brown, Snoopy), DOROTHY (Wizard of Oz, Toto), SHAGGY (Scooby Doo), WALLACE (and Gromit). Clever stuff by the NYT, but a little too clever for me today.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 29 September, game #476)

YELLOW: MAKE GOOD ON, AS A PROMISE FULFILL, HONOR, KEEP, UPHOLDGREEN: BEDDING BLANKET, SHAM, SHEET, THROWBLUE: ACTIONS IN CARD GAMES DISCARD, DRAW, PASS, PLAYPURPLE: CABINET DEPARTMENTS ENERGY, JUSTICE, LABOR, STATE

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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