Improve sustainability efforts with cloud computing
Cloud computing is innovative, convenient, and scalable. But did you know it can also be a much greener way to store your data? We take a look at how cloud computing can help your company improve its sustainability efforts and even reduce carbon emissions.
What is cloud computing?
In cloud computing, services are delivered via the internet rather than through local systems. Data is stored remotely, instead of in-house. One noticeable advantage is that this can be a very cost-effective solution. In fact, Accenture reports that “migrations to public cloud result in up to 30-40% total cost of ownership (TCO) savings”.
But that is not all. The right cloud architecture can bring a range of other benefits, too, including:
- Encouraging collaboration
- Staying scalable
- Improving disaster recovery
- Saving time (and costs) on hardware
Green cloud computing is about doing this sustainably. So, not only does your company benefit from the cloud, but the planet does too. So, how does it work?
Why do we need green cloud computing?
It is estimated that digital technologies account for 5 to 9% of global electricity consumption (via European Commission). That means the way we use our IT systems could have a big impact on the environment long into the future.
That is why organizations and bodies around the world are taking energy-efficient computing seriously. The European Commission, for instance, says that data centers need to “become more energy efficient, reuse waste energy such as heat, and use more renewable energy sources, with a view to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030.”
Meanwhile, some of the largest data center companies in the world are pledging to make their processes more environmentally friendly and to reduce carbon emissions. For example, Microsoft aims to purchase enough renewable energy to power 100% of electricity consumed in “Microsoft data centers, buildings, and campuses by 2025”.
Oracle Cloud and sustainability
At InspireIT, we work closely with many companies who choose to migrate to Oracle Cloud. This includes creating a strategy and roadmap, determining which systems to place in the cloud, and working out which types of Oracle Cloud services will be used.
Of course, it is important to understand how your new provider operates. For those considering moving to or scaling up operations in Oracle Cloud, the company has detailed their sustainability goals for the future.
These include, amongst others:
- Achieving 100% renewable energy use at all next generation Oracle Cloud regions by 2025
- Continuing its efforts to reduce e-waste – the company collected 2.5 million pounds of retired hardware assets, of which 99.6% was either reused or recycled, in FY20.
- Working with key suppliers who have an environmental program in place.
They also note that Oracle’s European Cloud regions are already powered with 100% renewable energy.
How cloud computing can reduce your carbon footprint
Today, consumers and clients see companies pledging new sustainability goals in almost every sector, but how does this work in practice for green cloud computing?
When you turn to green cloud computing, you have the chance to reduce your company’s carbon footprint and work more sustainably in a variety of ways, such as:
1. Increasing energy efficiency
A well-designed data center can be optimized to minimize power consumption and heat generation in a way that your premises may not be equipped for. In fact, a study by Microsoft suggests that specialized, efficient IT equipment can reduce electricity consumption by 10%.
2. Reducing on-site materials
When you own physical hardware, it can be difficult to know the best ways to recycle or reuse parts to reduce waste. Moving to the cloud minimizes the equipment you need onsite which can also save space.
3. Switch to renewable energy
Choosing a data center that uses renewable energy sources can be a big step in the right direction for companies that are looking to improve their sustainability and move toward a greener way of working.
4. Go paperless
Moving to the cloud can promote collaboration. People can work on documents, analyze data, and more, simultaneously from wherever they are. If you still find yourself generating a lot of paper waste, the cloud might just be the answer.
