Google Sydney has servers on site, but they may well just be to be local productivity aids (mirrors for development etc). Google generally don't publicise where their servers are or what they're for. Even if the servers are just like any standard office's servers, this exploit could result in some serious issues.
When I was at Google Sydney a few years ago for an internship, the AC died prompting an interesting response. The server temps were rising to unsafe levels and the AC wasn't expected to come back in time. The MacGyver solution was to buy portable AC units and pump the heat into the coder's workspace. That was a distinctly unpleasant afternoon =]
If the machines weren't important for production or productivity I'm certain they'd save us the hassle and shut them down. If nothing else, abuse of this office's AC system could severely impact the productivity of the office and spring dozens of people into action.
Whilst not under the usual purview of the rewards program, I'd still think it's noteworthy of recognition.
I wonder if that was a similar time to when I visited that office ~feb 2011.
The aircon was clearly over capacity then, and there were portable air conditioners scattered around the floor I was on, with flexible ducting feeding up to the return ducts in the ceiling.
I assume they've fixed that by now, I know they've gone through at least on remodel since.
