Sustainable IT: How to prevent AI's energy impact from threatening Net Zero Goals

In recent years, we've all seen the increasing adoption of AI in both our personal and professional lives. A Gartner report predicts that by 2025, AI will consume more energy than the entire human workforce, jeopardising our efforts to achieve net zero emissions.?

Therefore, it is crucial for businesses to consider the environmental impact of their IT practices. Sustainable IT has two main aspects:?Green of IT, which minimises our environmental footprint, and Green by IT, which empowers sectors for a carbon-neutral future.

Green of IT?

Green of IT focuses on minimising the negative environmental impact of IT operations throughout the entire lifecycle of technology, including design, manufacturing, use, and disposal. This includes:?

• Data center location: The energy required to cool data centres varies depending on location. Choosing a location with a cooler climate can significantly reduce energy consumption.?
• Virtualisation: Running systems on virtual machines instead of physical servers is typically more energy-efficient. Automation can also be used to power down servers when they are not in use. Optimising the application landscape by eliminating unused or duplicate systems can also contribute to energy savings.?
• Green coding: Software developers can contribute to sustainability efforts by using green coding practices and lean coding methods. This might involve changes to the CI/CD pipeline, code analysis, containerisation, and refactoring micro-services.?
• E-waste reduction: Electronic waste is the world's largest waste stream, with 57 million tonnes generated annually. Businesses can reduce their e-waste footprint by reusing, repairing, and recycling electronic devices. Extending the lifespan of devices by just one year can lead to significant energy and raw material savings.?

Green by IT?

Green by iT focuses on how IT can help other sectors reduce their carbon emissions. For example, it is estimated that IT can enable a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 compared to business as usual.?

The green and digital transitions, also known as the twin transition, can reinforce each other. For instance, distributed ledger technology, which underpins blockchain, can be used for material tracking, which can support the circular economy by improving maintenance and recycling practices. Additionally, digital twins, which are virtual replicas of physical objects, can be used to model traffic flows and optimise them, thereby reducing emissions.?

While the concept of twin transition may seem complex for individual businesses, Royal Schiphol Group and PA Consulting have developed a three-step approach to get you started:?

1. Set your ambition: Define your reasons for starting your twin transition journey and how you want to achieve it.?
2. Select opportunities: Choose specific use cases that will help you achieve your twin transition goals faster.?
3. Prepare for execution: Consolidate your results to shape your message and determine your next steps.?

By adopting these practices, businesses can make their IT operations more sustainable and contribute to a greener future.?

"As we embrace AI, it's imperative for businesses to not only optimise their own IT practices, but also empower other sectors in the journey towards a carbon-neutral future. With a three-step approach, businesses can pioneer the twin transition", says Sofie Bergbom, Business Area Manager, Nexer Clean Solutions.

What challenges do you foresee in adopting green IT practices, and what innovative solutions can pave the way? Share with us in the comments!

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