A new report from Greenpeace warns that greenhouse gas emissions from so-called 'cloud computing’ could triple by 2020.
The
Greenpeace report – '
Make IT Green: Cloud Computing and Its Contribution to Climate Change' – has been published ahead of Saturday’s launch of
Apple’s new
cloud computing device, the
iPad and suggests that cloud computing could produce a much larger carbon footprint for the IT sector than previously estimated.
'Cloud computing’ is where data, entertainment, news and other servicesare delivered to a device in real time, from the internet – none of ithas to be stored on the device itself.
Building on previous industry research, the Greenpeace report shows that at current growth rates, data centres and telecommunication networks – the two key components of cloud – will consume about 1,963 billion kilowatts hours of electricity in 2020.
Greenpeace says this is more than triple their current consumption and more than the current electricity consumption of France, Germany, Canada and Brazil combined.
"As the cloud expands, the
IT industry’s appetite for energy will increase, making it a major source of climate change unless the industry adopts and advocates
renewable energy use and backs
laws to cut global warming," said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International campaigner.
"IT companies like Microsoft, Google, and IBM are now in powerful positions at the local, national, and international levels. They must use that influence to promote policies that will allow them to grow responsibly without helping to fuel climate change."
Facebook data centre running on coalAccording to Greenpeace, one company that recently failed to take a lead on this issue is Facebook, when it announced the construction of its own data centre in Prineville, Oregon, running primarily on coal.
In doing so, the campaign group believes Facebook missed a chance to promote the use of renewable energy and instead "reinforced the coal industry's grip on the United Sates power grid".
The report contrasts this with the example of Yahoo!, which chose to build a data centre outside Buffalo, New York, that is powered by energy from a hydroelectric powe
policiesr plant, dramatically decreasing its carbon footprint.
"The ICT sector has the ability to help us combat climate change by doing what it is best at – innovating to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase
energy efficiency," Harrell said.
"
Technologies that enable smart grids, zero emission
buildings and more efficient
transport systems are key to cutting climate change pollution. But given the current pace of growth in cloud computing, the industry needs to get its own carbon footprint under control."
Apple "100 per cent transparent" about its energy useAsked to comment on the fact that the Greenpeace report has been time to coincide with the launch of its iPad, a spokesperson for Apple said that the company was "100 per cent transparent" about its energy use and striving to reduce its carbon footprint wherever possible.
She pointed out that Apple’s facilities — including corporate offices, distribution hubs, data centres, and retail stores — account for just three per cent of the company’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Even so, Apple has taken significant steps – such as installing energy efficient lighting and motion sensors for automatic shut off – to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by its
facilities worldwide, she said.
She added that two of the company’s facilities – in Cork and Elk Grove – now operate entirely on renewable energy.
On the back of its report, Greenpeace is calling on the giants of the IT industry to put their might behind government
policies that give priority grid access for renewable sources like wind and solar energy.
IT companies should also support economy-wide climate and energy policies around the world that peak emissions by 2015, it says.
Related news:Green IT newsRelated links:www.greenpeace.org/usa
