As digital activities grow, so does the environmental impact. Websites, data storage, and AI all contribute to carbon emissions. Organisations can and should make smarter choices to reduce their tech carbon footprint.
We have written previously, about how too few companies consider the energy impact of fundamental business operations such as their websites and social platforms. Given the need (and public demands) for businesses to urgently address climate change, are businesses overlooking this emerging risk?
The carbon footprint of websites and hosting
Every website produces carbon emissions due to the energy used to host and maintain it. The average website generates about 1.76 grams of CO2 per page view (source: Zifera). Although this seems small, with billions of visits, the impact adds up.
Most players in the IT industry are progressive when it comes to environmental responsibility, but some are more transparent than others about energy usage and sustainability practices. There are explicitly green hosting options, such as GreenGeeks and SiteGround, which prioritise renewable energy. Choosing one of these services is an effective way to reduce carbon emissions while aligning with broader sustainability goals and meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly business practices.
Managing data storage more sustainably
Large data centres are a significant source of carbon emissions, especially when storing “dark data”—unused files and data. In fact, data centres have a greater carbon footprint than the aviation industry (source: Climatiq).
With 1.3 trillion gigabytes of dark data generated daily, the equivalent to 3,023,255 London to New York flights (source: World Economic Forum), regular audits to delete unused data can greatly reduce environmental impact. This includes avoiding practices like storing multiple versions of the same document on SharePoint or other platforms. Media files in particular consume significant amounts of storage space and energy. Reducing redundant files and streamlining data storage is a practical step, along with choosing cloud providers like Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure, which invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient technology.
The impact of AI on carbon footprint
AI has both positive and negative effects on carbon emissions. On the positive side, AI can improve the efficiency of data centres by predicting server loads and reducing energy waste. However, AI, particularly deep learning models, demands significant computing power, which increases energy use and contributes to a larger carbon footprint. To mitigate these impacts, organisations can adopt sustainable AI practices by developing energy-efficient algorithms, utilising renewable energy sources for AI infrastructure, and regularly evaluating the environmental footprint of their AI projects to ensure responsible usage.
Practical steps to reduce tech carbon footprint
Reducing your organisation's digital carbon footprint requires a focused approach to managing data and evaluating digital services. Here are some practical steps your organisation can take:
- Assess the platforms and services your organisation uses to ensure they are transparent about energy use and sustainability practices.
- Reduce duplicate content by avoiding multiple copies of documents and files.
- Implement systems to retain only final versions of documents.
- Archive older documents, such as moving files over three years old to platforms like SharePoint, to reduce active storage needs.
- Manage your data lifecycle: Regularly review and delete unnecessary data to save storage space and reduce risks.
As the digital world expands, so does its carbon footprint. By making sustainable choices in website hosting, data storage, and AI, organisations can significantly reduce their tech carbon emissions. Adopting greener practices helps businesses minimise environmental impact while staying innovative and competitive.