Energy-hungry datacentres are a growing concern, with their environmental impact extending beyond electricity use. According to recent research, datacentres now consume 6% of the electricity supply in the UK and US, and data storage is responsible for more carbon emissions than the commercial airline industry. This includes contributions to land and water use, e-waste, supply chain issues, and refrigerant gas leaks.
Individual Action Against E-Clutter
Gill Davidson, UK coordinator for World Cleanup Day and Digital Cleanup Day, argues that individuals can help reduce this problem. She notes that while storing photos and files on devices is often perceived as cost-free, there is a significant environmental cost. By practising responsible data management and deleting unnecessary files, we can reduce demand for data storage and its environmental impacts. Additionally, reducing data clutter can improve device performance and longevity.
Repurposing Waste Heat
Robert Harrison from Sheffield suggests that datacentres produce substantial amounts of waste heat that could be repurposed for district heating, agricultural greenhouses, or hot water. He questions why it is not mandated for datacentres to be located near areas where this heat can be utilised, especially given net-zero goals. This would improve the carbon budget and seems an easy win.
These letters highlight the need for both individual and systemic changes to mitigate the environmental impact of datacentres.
