The rise of remote workforces, cryptocurrencies and super-sized data centers brings to the forefront a concern in tech development that doesn’t get enough attention: The impact of computing and advanced technologies on the environment.
Six months after the pandemic, people began noticing a change in their behavior. notice cleaner airClearer water and a general calming effect on environment in the absence of industry. The creation of memes was widely shared, suggesting that we were indeed the problem.
It lasted about six weeks before cabin flu set in. Then, we got impatient and were ready to get back on track.
Between the end of the third quarter of 2020, and the sudden waning and increasing popularity of NFTs in the United States, a few timid voices raised concerns about the environmental impact of super-computing technology and other technologies. Those concerns were eventually disregarded amid socioeconomic turmoil and political turmoil, fears over inflation, staff shortages, logistical issues around supply chain disruption, and fears about inflation.
App development was created to fill in those gaps. New data centers were established as we struggled to regain our feet in a post-pandemic environment.
Environmental issues have been a matter for growing concern for decades. However, the last few years have brought a new focus to the issue, with entire industries emerging around the issue. Climate-friendly investingTo Carbon offsetsYou can find out more. Despite a growing focus on sustainability, the environmental impact of technology remains a problem.
How to Address the Elephant in Your Staging Area
The typical DevOps journey is focused mainly on how app developers will impact an organization. It rarely addresses the impact of development on the environment.
Apart from improving time to market, reducing human error and debugging, financial resource management should be improved. A part of your DevOps strategy must include ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
It helps to understand how technology affects climate and depletes resources so that you can incorporate sustainable development. into your planIn a meaningful manner.
- Carbon emissions It’s estimated that in 2022, there are already more than 16.5 billion mobile devices in use worldwide. One iPhone emits approximately 1.2 mW. It will produce 86kg of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, and 80% of it is lost before it reaches consumers. This is just a small portion of carbon emissions, and it will only continue to get worse.
- Consumption of powerAll of that carbon comes out of somewhere. Looking at energy consumption from just one technology can give you a glimpse of how much computing contributes. Data centers consumed 416 terawatts annually in 2020. The Bitcoin network consumes more energy than all other global data centers combined. A Single transaction NFTIt consumes 82 kWh of electricity and emits 48kg of CO2.
Even passive technologies, such as video streaming or remote collaboration, can use more power than entire nations. Consider the impact of all the hours spent streaming Netflix, Zoom meetings, and other remote activities.
- Waste:Despite the sheer volume of devices that are in use, very little hardware can be recycled. Electronic waste comprises 70% of toxic waste worldwide, and it’s estimated to Total40 million tonnes annually
- Water consumption You don’t often consider mixing water and electricity, but all of those data centers need to be cooled somehow. The Internet alone consumes 3,000 liters of water each year and emits 2,000 kilograms of CO2.
Clean Up Your DevOps Process For the Good of the Climate
To become part of the solution, it’s important to do more than just invest in green businesses. Here are some steps that you can take to improve your DevOps and be part of the solution, not contribute to it.
Identify areas of vulnerability
Software engineering and DevOps have been expanding their horizons and emphasizing sustainable engineering. The first step to moving in the right direction is to understand how power and resources are being used during your development cycle.
Consider:
- How you generate your power. How dependent are you on fossil fuels? Or do you prefer more eco-friendly methods of power generation?
- How often do your replace or recycle hardware and other physical parts? This is a goal of waste reduction.
- How cool are your data centers and computing equipment? Are you wasting resources by trying to maintain optimal temperatures?
Balance the Three Areas of Sustainable DevOps
The process of sustainable engineering can be divided into three categories: technical, operational, and environmental. This is how to balance all aspects. Monitor and optimizeto minimize the damage caused by the development process.
Encourage sustainable development practices
Once you’ve identified areas of risk and set goals for sustainable software engineering, use the results to create and enforce a set of development best practices that better support environmentally responsible design and production. You can also model your own initiatives if you need help. These are emerging standardization principles.
Be a part of the Green Tech Community
In 2021, more 200 countries signed the Glasgow Climate Pact,Their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, and the environmental damage that tech development and use can cause, was strengthened. The Conference brought together stakeholders from government agencies, businesses, and other organizations to share information and develop standards and best practices for sustainable computing.
Incorporate Tools that Support Sustainable Development
Google, Amazon and Microsoft are creating tools that help DevOps, IT, and IT measure and monitor the environmental impact from everything from cloud computing and app development. Take these tools and make your own A list of best practicesYou can also work with us to create your own solutions.
Final Thoughts
Tech development is meant to improve our quality and transform how we do business. There’s no reason that intention shouldn’t extend to the world in which we live and engage in commerce.
Understanding the impact of technology on our environment is the first step in combating climate changes without negatively impacting development. This will allow us to make informed decisions and support sustainable DevOps.