May 2024, the 12th consecutive month of record high temperatures, reminds us of the pressing need to address global warming. As consumers are already on the “green side of the force”, sustainability becomes essential to business success, and eco-friendly cloud computing is emerging as a key player. In this article, we examine how cloud solutions provide a green, flexible, and powerful way for you to thrive in a climate-conscious landscape.
Cloud computing vs. sustainable cloud computing
“Traditional” cloud computing allows you to effortlessly access on-demand infrastructure without the need for on-site installation and maintenance, easing the transition of IT services from conventional desktop deployments to decentralized data centers.
Green cloud computing extends this concept by using renewable energy to minimize energy consumption, significantly reducing carbon footprints.
How sustainable cloud and data centers go hand in hand
Data centers are fundamental to cloud computing, providing the crucial hardware and software resources necessary for optimal cloud service performance. This dynamic infrastructure delivers computational capabilities over the Internet, revolutionizing business operations.
Notably, studies reveal a remarkable trend: while computing output surges exponentially, energy consumption in data centers increases more slowly. This contrast underscores the efficiency gained through sustainable practices in cloud computing.
However, with the current rise of generative AI, the sustainability challenge is only going to get bigger. Models like ChatGPT are trained on massive amounts of data to create new content. This process of learning and inference requires significantly more computing power than the simpler Google searches of the past. This means that cloud and data centers need to be even greener than we are trying to make them now.
What is the ecological impact of cloud storage?
An examination of cloud sustainability and energy use reveals that global data center energy consumption is nearly equivalent to the annual consumption of Spain. Global CO2 emissions could be significantly reduced by moving to a green cloud model. Accenture says this shift could reduce overall IT emissions and carbon footprint by 5.9%, equivalent to the removal of 22 million vehicles.
Best strategies for achieving green cloud sustainability targets
Providers use a variety of methods to minimize the ecological impact of cloud services:
1. Utilizing renewable energy
Providers are utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power to reduce their carbon footprint. Notably, in May 2023, solar and wind energy surpassed fossil fuels for the first time in a full month in the European Union, highlighting a significant shift toward sustainable energy.
2. Enhancing infrastructure efficiency
Data centers are using AI and ML to optimize energy consumption. This includes reusing excess heat for nearby buildings, deploying advanced hardware, and locating in colder climates to reduce energy use.
3. Streamlining workflows
By automating routine tasks, balancing loads across servers, and optimizing mobile storage and network connections, resource utilization is maximized while energy consumption is minimized.
4. Promoting recycling and reducing waste
Recycling is critical in the digital age. Zero waste programs help reduce contributions to landfills, particularly through the responsible disposal of dangerous electronic waste.
5. Ensuring transparency and accountability
Vendors publicly share information and updates on their sustainability efforts to maintain accountability and demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship.
How to start your migration to a sustainable cloud?
Transitioning to green cloud computing presents several challenges, including migration complexity, data transfer issues, and regulatory concerns. Achieving sustainability goals requires careful management and strategic thinking. It’s good to find an IT partner you can trust to provide more than just the cloud itself, such as support and advice at every stage of this green journey.
The use of technology tools can facilitate a successful transition to green cloud technologies:
- Virtualization and containerization
The use of virtual machines and containers allows several operating systems to run on the same hardware, reducing the number of servers needed and thus reducing energy consumption. - AI-based resource scheduling
Intelligent resource allocation based on historical usage data helps save energy. - IaaS optimization
Optimizing Infrastructure as a service includes efficient management of virtual machines and containers, which reduces the overall need for servers and data centers and promotes green IT practices.
What is the greenwashing trap and how to navigate it?
As the need for sustainable business practices grows, it is crucial to avoid greenwashing, which means claims of sustainability without meaningful action. There are some important steps you can take to not fall into this trap. First and foremost, choose vendors who openly communicate their sustainability efforts and show measurable results. Careful evaluation helps avoid deceptive claims and supports genuine environmental initiatives.
To thoroughly assess your provider’s cloud computing sustainability efforts, understand their measurement and reporting practices. Ensure they use diverse energy sources and examine how they address unforeseen environmental impacts. This alignment of cloud services with sustainability goals is essential.
Summary
With the increasing urgency to combat climate change, businesses face growing pressure to contribute. Adopting sustainable cloud computing leads the way in green IT solutions. Making thoughtful choices fosters a greener planet and spurs ongoing innovation. Vendors committed to cloud computing sustainability pursue advanced solutions, providing an ongoing stream of innovation and technological improvements for their clients and end users. In this path, modern enterprises are steering through an evolving landscape, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of cloud services and other IT solutions.
Prepared by: Comarch
About Comarch: Comarch is one of the largest IT companies in Europe, carrying out projects for leading brands from Poland and around the world in the most important economic sectors. With 16 data centers, 6 cloud regions, and 25+ years of experience, Comarch is the leading expert in data center, cloud, and IT services.
Learn more at https://www.comarch.com/trade-and-services/ict/
