Green IT Factsheet

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Green Information Technologies (Green IT) reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional Information Technologies (IT). Examples of Green IT include energy efficient hardware and data centers, server virtualization, and monitoring systems. Green IT focuses on mitigating the material and energy burdens associated with conventional IT while meeting our information and communication demands.1

Patterns of Use

  • In 2019, 2.16 billion mobile phones, tablets, and PCs were sold worldwide.3
  • In 2010, 297 million smartphones were sold globally. Over 1.4 billion were sold in 2021.4
  • Globally, more people have mobile phones than access to safe sanitation.5,6
  • In 2018, 92% of households in the U.S. had a computer at home, compared to 8% in 1984. Of all households in 2018, 63% had a tablet, 78% had a desktop or laptop, 84% had a smartphone, and 85% had a broadband internet connection.7
  • More than 14% of households used their primary computer for 10+ hours per day in 2009.8
  • Computers and office equipment accounted for 13% of the total electricity consumption (227 billion kWh) of office buildings in 2018.9
  • In 2014, U.S. data centers used 70 billion kWh of electricity—1.8% of total electricity consumption. 2
  • The peak power associated with servers and data centers in 2007 was 7 GW. Existing technologies and efficient design strategies can reduce server energy use by 25% or more, while best management practices and consolidating servers can reduce energy use by 20%.10
  • Many countries have seen an increase in telecommuting in response to COVID.11
  • Telecommuting during COVID in 2020 resulted in a 13% reduction in work-related energy consumption and a 14% reduction in GHG emissions.12
  • The IT sector accounts for 4% of global GHG emissions and this could double by 2025.11

Energy and Environmental Impact

  • Electricity used for U.S. servers and data centers emits 28.4 million metric tons (Mt) CO2e annually.2,14
  • Computer electricity consumption varies greatly with age, hardware, and user habits. An average desktop computer requires 66 W when idle and 1.9 W in sleep mode. Laptops require less power on average - 33 W when idle and 1.0 W in sleep mode.15
  • A 17” light emitting diode (LED) LCD monitor uses about 13 W while on, 0.4 W in standby, and about 0.3 W when off.16
  • Every kWh used by office equipment requires an additional 0.2-0.5 kWh for air conditioning.17
  • The life cycle energy burden of a typical computer used for 3 years is 4,222 kWh. Only 34% of a computer’s life cycle energy consumption occurs in the 3-year use phase. Production dominates life cycle energy due to the high energy costs of semiconductors and short use phase.18
  • Manufacturing represents 60-85% of life cycle energy demand for a personal computer and 50-60% for mobile phones. Remanufacturing energy is a fraction of manufacturing energy: 5-30% for personal computers and 5% for mobile phones.19
  • Some emerging technologies can reduce manufacturing burdens. Globally, 3D printing has the potential to reduce total primary energy use by 2.5-9.3 EJ and CO₂ emissions by 131-526 Mt by 2025.20
End Use Electricity Consumption of U.S. Data Centers2
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Electricity Use by U.S. Data Centers, by End Use

 

Office Equipment power demand13
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Power Used by Office Equipment

 

Electronic Waste

  • In 2019, approximately 54 Mt of e-waste were generated worldwide—only 17% was recycled properly. 22
  • U.S. federal regulations currently allow the export of e-waste, posing a global threat to human health.23,24 An estimated 5-30% of the 40 million computers used in the U.S. were exported to developing countries in 2010.25 In 2016, Basel Action Network found that 34% of the e-waste tracked by GPS trackers in the U.S. moved offshore, almost all to developing countries.26
  •  In 2018, the U.S. disposed of 2.7 million U.S. short tons of consumer electronics such as TVs, computer equipment, and telephones, 38.5% of which were recycled.27
  • The main constituents of printed circuit boards used in mobile electronics are polymers and copper, with trace amounts of precious metals Ag, Au, and Pd, and toxic metals As, Be, Cr, and Pb.28
  • One metric ton of printed circuit boards has a higher concentration of precious metals than one metric ton of mined ore.29

 

Composition of a Desktop Computer21
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Composition of a Desktop Computer

 

Paper Industry

  • After slow growth from 2014 to 2017, paper production decreased by 2% globally in 2018, and decreased by 3% in North America.30 Annual consumption of printing and writing paper is expected to rise from 109 to 274 Mt between 2006 and 2060.31
  • The U.S. accounts for approximately 18% of global printing and writing paper consumption.30
  • Depending on the process, producing one ton of paper consumes 12 to 24 trees.32
  • In 2021, greenhouse gas emissions of the U.S. pulp and paper manufacturing industry were 35 Mt CO2e, approximately equivalent to the annual carbon sequestered by 42 million acres of U.S. forests.33,34

Sustainable Alternatives

Technology

  • Virtualization enables one physical server to run many independent programs and/or operating systems.35 This technology reduces the number of physical servers needed and promotes greater utilization of each server. With virtualization, each machine can run at 80% capacity rather than 10%.36 Virtualization reduces cost, material waste, electricity use, server sprawl, and cooling loads, saving money while reducing the environmental burdens of running a data center.35
  • Data center energy efficiency can be improved by utilizing combined heat and power systems. Heat recovered from electricity generation in the form of steam or hot water can be used by an on-site chiller to cool the data center.37
  • Telecommuting or working from home, in which employees work remotely, is becoming more common. Studies suggest energy savings as a result of decreased commuting transportation. When examining the broader energy system impacts, however, increased energy use at home for IT, lighting, and heating/cooling partially offsets the transportation energy savings.38

Reduce Energy Consumption

  • Office equipment energy consumption could be reduced by 23% if all office equipment had and utilized low-power mode. If all desktop computers and printers were turned off for the night, energy consumption would be further reduced by 9%.39
  • Energy Star certified computer servers are, on average, 30% more energy efficient than standard servers. If all servers in the U.S. met Energy Star standards, $1 billion in energy would be saved and 8.2 Mt of GHG emissions would be avoided per year.41 
  • Energy consumed by devices in standby mode accounts for 5-10% of residential energy use. Unplug electronic devices when not in use, or plug them into a power strip and turn that off.42 Turning off a computer when it is not in use can save $50, 505 kWh, and 433 lbs of CO2 per computer annually.14, 43
  • When leaving computers on, EPA recommends setting computer monitors to go to sleep after 5-20 minutes of inactivity, and for desktop computers to enter standby after 30-60 minutes.44

 

Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Computing and Electronics Products40
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Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions:  Computing and Electronics Products40

 

Take Action

  • Make informed purchases. Energy Star’s Excel-based calculators estimate energy and cost savings for office equipment, appliances, electronics, and lighting.45 The Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) rates and verifies the environmental impacts of computer products across multiple criteria, including energy efficiency, GHG emissions reduction, and recyclability.46
  • Purchase Energy Star certified products, consolidate multiple devices into all-in-one equipment, and turn off devices when not in use.47
  • The average American generates 410 pounds of paper waste each year, and 45% of printed paper in offices is discarded by the end of the day. Save resources by not printing or, when a paper version is necessary, by printing double-sided on recycled paper.48,49,50
  • Extend the life of personal computers to delay the energy and materials burdens associated with making new equipment.18
  • Maximize the life of batteries with these practices: minimize exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures and time spent at both 0% and 100% charge; avoid fast charging, discharging faster than required, use in high moisture environments, and mechanical damage; and follow manufacturer calibration instructions.51
  • Recycle your unused electronics. Responsible Recycling (R2) and e-Stewards offer third-party certification for electronics recyclers to ensure the proper disposal of used electronics.52
Cite As

Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan. 2023. “Green IT Factsheet.” Pub. No. CSS09-07.

  1. Corbett, J. (2010) Unearthing the value of Green IT. ICIS Proceedings (2010): 1-21.
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) (2016) United States Data Center Energy Usage Report.
  3. Gartner (2020) “Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Device Shipments to Decline 14% in 2020 Due to Coronavirus Impact.”
  4. Statista (2022) “Number of smartphones sold to end users worldwide from 2007 to 2021.”
  5. GSMA (2023) The Mobile Economy 2023.
  6. World Health Organization (2021) Progress on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: 2000-2020.
  7. U.S. Census Bureau (2021) Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2018.
  8. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2013) 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey.
  9. U.S. EIA (2022) Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey 2018.
  10. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Program (2008) EPA Report to Congress on Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency Public Law 109-431.
  11. CIRAIG (2022) What is the environmental impact of teleworking?
  12. Li, J., et al. (2022) "Assessing a Post COVID World: Energy and Emission Impacts of Telecommuting"
  13. Menzes, A., et al. (2014) “Estimating the energy consumption and power demand of small office equipment.” Energy and Buildings, 75(2014): 199-209.
  14. U.S. EPA (2023) eGRID 2021 Summary Tables.
  15. LBNL (2014) Computer usage and national energy consumption: Results from a field-metering study.
  16. Park, W., et al. (2013) Efficiency Improvement Opportunities for Personal Computers: Implications for Market Transformation Programs.
  17. Roth, K., et al. (2002) Energy consumption by office and telecommunications equipment in commercial buildings, Volume 1: Energy Consumption Baseline. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service.
  18. Keoleian, G. and D. Spitzley (2006) Life Cycle Based Sustainability Metrics. Sustainability Science and Engineering.
  19. Quariguasi-Frota-Neto et al. (2012) “An analysis of the eco-efficiency of remanufactured personal computers and mobile phones.” Production and Operations Management Society, 21(1): 101-114.
  20. Gebler, M., et al (2014) “A global sustainability perspective on 3D printing technologies.” Energy Policy, 74(2014): 158–167.
  21. U.S. EPA (2016) Documentation for Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Factors Used in the Waste Reduction Model.
  22. United Nations University (2020) The Global E-Waste Monitor 2020.
  23. U.S. EPA (2019) “Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste).”
  24. Graham Sustainability Institute (2021) “Emerging Opportunities Program: Identifying Comprehensive Solutions to Electronic Waste Recycling.”
  25. Kahhat, R. and E. Williams (2012) “Materials flow analysis of e-waste: Domestic flows and exports of used computers from the United States” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 67: 67-74.
  26. Basel Action Network (2016) Scam Recycling: e-Dumping on Asia by U.S. Recyclers.
  27. U.S. EPA (2022) "Durable Goods: Product-Specific Data."
  28. Holgersson, S., et al. (2016) “Analysis of the metal content of small-size Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) printed circuit boards—part 1: Internetrouters, mobile phones and smartphones.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling (2017): 1-9.
  29. Betts, K. (2008) Producing usable materials from e-waste. Environmental Science & Technology.
  30. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2019) Global Forest Products Facts and Figures 2018.
  31. Buongiorno, J., et al. (2012) Outlook to 2060 for World Forests and Forest Industries: A Technical Document Supporting the Forest Service 2010 RPA Assessment.
  32. Conservatree (2012) “Trees into Paper.”
  33. U.S. EPA (2022) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Pulp and Paper.
  34. U.S. EPA (2023) Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.
  35. Energy Star (2020) “Server Virtualization.”
  36. Ruest, N. and D. Ruest (2009) Virtualization, A Beginner’s Guide. McGraw-Hill Osborne Media.
  37. U.S. EPA (2008) The Role of Distributed Generation and Combined Heat and Power Systems in Data Centers.
  38. O’Brien, W. & F. Aliabadi (2020) Does telecommuting save energy? A critical review of quantitative studies and their research methods. Energy and Buildings, Article 110298.
  39. Kawamoto, K., et al. (2001) Electricity used by office equipment and network equipment in the U.S.: Detailed report and appendices. U.S. DOE, LBNL.
  40. Teehan, P. and M. Kandlikar (2013) Comparing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Modern Computing and Electronics Products. Environmental Science and Technology, 2013, 47, 3997−4003.
  41. Energy Star (2020) “Enterprise Servers.”
  42. LBNL (2019) “Standby Power: Frequently Asked Questions.”
  43. Bray, M. (2008) Review of Computer Energy Consumption and Potential Savings.
  44. U.S. EPA (2017) Power Management for Computers and Monitors.
  45. Energy Star (2017) "Purchase energy-saving products.”
  46. U.S. EPA (2017) "Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool- (EPEAT)"
  47. U.S. DOE, LBNL (2013) “Home Energy Saver: Home Office Equipment.”
  48. U.S. EPA (2020) Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet.
  49. U.S. Census Bureau (2021) Population Clock.
  50. Environmental Paper Network (2008) Increasing Paper Efficiency.
  51. Woody, M., et al. (2020) Strategies to limit degradation and maximize Li-ion battery service lifetime - Critical review and guidance. Journal of Energy Storage, 28, 2020.
  52. U.S. EPA (2019) “Certified Electronics Recyclers.”
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