Before you start reading: Write down the exact time (00:00:00) you start reading this post for reference later.
Now, Do you know what your carbon footprint will be for reading this blog post? How about mine from writing it? What exactly is the impact of using a computer on the environment? Does it actually contribute to climate change?
Dr. Alexander Wissner-Gross, Environmental Fellow at Harvard University studying the environmental impact of computing, says that each second of web browsing generates around 20 milligrams of CO2. So, you’re probably pushing 100 mg of CO2 already. And if you used Google to find me, that’s 0.2 grams per search.
If you think the Internet as it is now is the green solution, think again. Some recent studies are highlighting the increasing energy needs of computers and the entire IT industry.
Shocker Statistic:
% of world’s greenhouse gases created by the manufacturing, use and disposal of information and communication technology: 2%
% of world’s greenhouse gases created by the entire aviation industry: 2%
Source: Gartner Report, 2007
What about this:
Annual electricity to transmit annual spam email = Power for 2 million U.S. homes
Source: Anti-virus software firm McAfee
“Most people don’t appreciate that the computer on your desk is contributing to global warming and that if its electricity comes from a coal power plant it produces as much C02 as a sports utility vehicle,” said Bill St. Arnaud of Canarie.
How do you calculate an IT carbon footprint?
Factors include data centers (where the information is stored), network infrastructure (all the stuff that the information travels on), and manufacture and transport (making all that stuff).
2002 global data center emissions: 76 million tons of CO2
2002 Fixed broadband accounts emissions: 4 million tons of CO2
2002: Manufacture & transport of PC’s and laptops: 200 million tons of CO2
Source: Climate Group and Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) Report.
So, does blogging create climate change? Not nearly as much as driving to the store to buy paper to print out a 40 page color PDF brochure to read during your next flight to Cancun- but, there is a footprint.
Who is doing something about this? What are the Green Internet Ideas?
Here are a few:
- Wissner-Gross runs C02Stats, a web hosting company that helps businesses monitor and manage their environmental impact and purchase renewable energy certificates to offset their monthly CO2 emissions.
- Cleanbits lobbies web sites to go green by either by purchasing carbon offsets or switching to green hosting providers.
- AISO.net http://www.aiso.net/ is a solar-powered data center based in California.
- I love EcoFont, a free font that uses tiny holes in letters to reduce ink use by 20% when you print.
Please include links and descriptions in the comments to companies you would recommend.
Stop your timer and use this as a rough estimate: 1 second of browsing= 20mg CO2
Your footprint after reading this blog post for 5 minutes? 0.6 grams of CO2.
Mine from writing it? 1.8 grams.
All statistics taken from “Greening the Internet” unless otherwise noted.
More from GLI:
I like the idea of using the computers to heat the rest of the building. I’ve heard of people doing this with standard, non-supercomputer server farms, too – basically just by putting them in the basement and being clever about how the ventilation system works – but damned if I can find a link.
My computer is powered by hydro and nuclear. It allows me to commute by walking downstairs instead of driving to the nearest big city. My computer has a negative carbon foot print (a carbon footemboss?)
I think the dissemination of information and the giving (taking back?) of power back to the people via the email, social media and video is irreplaceable and has played a large part in creating greater environmental awareness.
What are the chances of me having learned about this issue or that cool eco-font had I not had computer access to your blog?
I think the good outweighs the bad, however, we can all be more conservative with our computer carbon footprint impact.
Hey Maria- I hear you, heating a building with computer heat is such a great concept. I haven’t found any direct links to people who know how to do this or offer it as a design-style service, but here is a good article on a company that is making it happen and developing: http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/science_technology/Harnessing_computer_heat_can_cut_energy_bills.html?siteSect=511&sid=10931999&rss=true&ty=st
Hey David- I love the carbon footemboss- you need to create a logo and start writing about that. And cheers to you for figuring out how to work on a computer with minimal impact. Is all of your electricity hydro/ nuclear- how does that work?
Hi Scott. The grid in Ontario is pretty much all hydro and nuclear. There is no coal. The government of Ontario is actually embarking on a big wind-energy push (I have read that it is the biggest in the world, or the most wind-friendly in the world, or something like that). Here is the site http://www.ontariogreenenergyact.ca/ , although my info is strictly from news reports.