Data centers generate large amounts of low-temperature waste heat that can be turned into an energy resource. In Europe, particularly in the Nordic countries, it is now common practice to integrate data centers with district heating systems, to the point that in some EU regions heat recovery is a mandatory requirement to obtain construction permits. In the United States, the data center market is growing rapidly but often develops independently from the energy system. This scenario creates significant opportunities for combined heat and power (CHP), which can provide reliable energy while recovering the heat produced. The integration of data centers, cogeneration, and distributed energy represents a concrete lever to make these infrastructures more efficient and sustainable.