Housed in data centres around the world, our digital Cloud has a carbon lining. As data is transmitted underground, through air and across oceans, it generates high energy demands at data centres. Some may point out that big companies like Amazon, Google and Microsoft largely use renewable energy at their data centres. However, take away the Renewable Energy Certificates that these companies purchase to have renewable energy generated on their behalf to lower their net carbon impact, and you will see quite a different story. For example, 84% of Google’s data demands were supported by fossil fuels in Taiwan and only half of Amazon’s data demands are supplied by renewable energy. 

Currently, data usage and infrastructure account for nearly 4% of greenhouse emissions with each internet user generating almost one bathtub of CO2 gas per year. Multiply that by the 4.5 billion internet users worldwide and the total comes close to the volume of greenhouse emissions generated by the airline industry. Adjust for a predicted three and a half times multiple for the upcoming 5G network as compared to our current 4G network, and you are looking at an astronomical figure.

Given the urgent state of climate change, we cannot wait for big companies to save our planet or for Amazon to finally attain zero net carbon emissions in 2040. After all, they are only enabling what we are asking them to. As individuals, we have to start by acting more responsibly and with compassion towards our planet. Here are three interesting ways to reduce your data usage!

1. Reduce the amount of Netflix and videos you watch. Many of us turn to Netflix and YouTube when we are bored and end up spending hours getting distracted by shows and videos. However, video streaming is a huge source of data usage. When we watch videos frivolously, we end up using massive amounts of data. Instead, pick up a book or card game! There are many ways to have fun without turning on the computer. If you must, try watching shows in a group rather than alone as this minimises the amount of data used per person. Additionally, if you are turning to Netflix and YouTube as forms of distraction from your work or studies, perhaps it is best to figure out why you feel bored and how you can motivate yourself! Netflix and YouTube are major sources of data usage and we should be mindful of how much we use these platforms.

2. Reduce the size and quantity of your messages by covering more information in a single message or narrowing your target audience. Exclude pictures and videos where possible and send only relevant sections of documents. Additionally, choose SMSes over other messaging apps, which are only slightly less energy intensive than emails. Speaking of messaging apps, another way to save data is to exit unnecessary group chats. When messages are sent in group chats, they must be transmitted to multiple devices, increasing the total data usage. It is also common for people to send an announcement or message to several different group chats. That is why we should practice housekeeping when it comes to our messaging apps and delete group chats that are no longer needed.

3. Disable auto-updates and be mindful of frivolous downloading. Setting your games and apps to update automatically without your approval may save you some effort, but this gobbles up massive amounts of data. If you are already satisfied with the level of performance offered by these apps, it may not be necessary to update them. Additionally, downloading apps on a whim and never using them means that the data used to download these apps goes to waste. Just like with shopping, ask yourself whether you have use for an app before downloading it. The earth pays for it, even when you do not.

4. Increase the lifespan of your gadgets. Beside reducing data usage, this reduces the fossil fuels needed and waste produced in manufacturing, transporting and ultimately discarding the gadgets. By taking good care of your gadgets and using them for six years instead of four, we could save 190kg of carbon emissions a year. 

Climate change is everywhere. Beyond manufacturing, food waste, vehicle emissions and more, it is time to look at other everyday actions and think more deeply about their implications.