Why turning to cloud storage is actually bad for the environment

Summary

The video script highlights the environmental impact of cloud storage, revealing that data centers consume significant energy and water resources. In 2014, they accounted for 1.8% of US electricity use, equivalent to New Jersey's consumption. Professor Landon Marston suggests reducing data storage by deleting old files, turning off devices, and advocating for sustainable practices in data centers to mitigate environmental harm.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The cloud is a physical infrastructure that stores data, not a virtual space where data disappears.
• 🏢 Cloud data is stored in large facilities known as datacenters or server farms, which are filled with servers.
• 🔋 Datacenters require substantial amounts of energy to operate, often sourced from fossil fuels.
• 💡 In 2014, datacenters accounted for 1.8% of US electricity consumption, comparable to the entire state of New Jersey's usage.
• 💧 Datacenters also consume significant water resources, equivalent to over 200,000 Olympic-size swimming pools annually.
• 🗑️ Reducing data storage by deleting old emails and photos can decrease the need for data centers, thus reducing environmental impact.
• 📺 Turning off devices like TVs and streaming services when not in use conserves energy and reduces data center resource use.
• 🌿 Encouraging data center companies to adopt sustainable practices can have a long-term positive effect on the environment.
• 🗣️ Using your voice to engage with large data center companies can influence them to be more environmentally conscious.
• 🛑 Small individual actions, like turning off devices overnight, can collectively make a significant difference in energy and water consumption.
• 🌱 The script emphasizes the importance of both personal and corporate responsibility in mitigating the environmental impact of cloud services.

Q & A

What is the primary concern about cloud storage and its impact on the environment?

The primary concern is that cloud storage, which stores data like photos, videos, emails, and apps, consumes significant amounts of energy and water. This energy often comes from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.

Where are the data stored in cloud services physically located?

The data in cloud services are stored on physical servers, which are housed in large facilities known as datacenters or server farms.

What kind of energy is typically used to operate datacenters?

Datacenters often require substantial amounts of energy, which usually comes from fossil fuels.

How much of the US electricity consumption was attributed to datacenters in 2014?

In 2014, 1.8% of US electricity consumption was attributed to datacenters, which is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of the state of New Jersey.

What is the water consumption of US datacenters in terms of Olympic size swimming pools?

U.S. datacenters directly and indirectly consume the equivalent of over 200,000 Olympic size swimming pools of water each year.

What is one simple action individuals can take to reduce the environmental impact of cloud storage?

Individuals can start by deleting old emails and photos, which reduces the amount of data stored on the cloud and, consequently, the need for more data centers.

Why is turning off the TV before going to bed suggested as a way to help the environment?

Turning off the TV before going to bed helps reduce the use of data center resources, which in turn decreases energy consumption and the associated environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.

Who is Landon Marston and what does he suggest to reduce the environmental impact of datacenters?

Landon Marston is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech. He suggests using your voice to engage with large data center companies and encourage them to adopt more sustainable practices.

What is the long-term environmental impact of using data center resources inefficiently?

Inefficient use of data center resources leads to increased consumption of fossil fuels, higher greenhouse gas emissions, and greater water consumption, all of which contribute to environmental degradation.

How can individuals make a significant impact on the environment by interacting with data center companies?

Individuals can make a significant impact by using their voice to reach out to data center companies and encourage them to shift towards more sustainable practices, which can have a lasting effect on the environment.

What role does the use of streaming services like Netflix play in the environmental impact of datacenters?

The use of streaming services, especially when they are left running overnight, consumes data center resources and energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Environmental Impact of Cloud Storage

This paragraph discusses the environmental effects of cloud storage, explaining that data doesn't vanish but is stored on physical servers in datacenters. These facilities require significant energy, often derived from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The paragraph cites Landon Marston, a professor at Virginia Tech, who highlights the substantial electricity consumption of datacenters in the US, equivalent to that of New Jersey, and their significant water usage, equivalent to over 200,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools annually. The script suggests practical steps for reducing the environmental footprint, such as deleting unnecessary data, turning off devices when not in use, and advocating for sustainable practices within the data center industry.

Keywords

💡Cloud Storage

Cloud storage refers to the practice of storing data remotely on servers that are managed by a third party. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as a service that many people use to store their photos, videos, emails, and apps. However, the script emphasizes that data stored in the cloud does not disappear but is instead kept on physical servers, which can have significant environmental impacts.

💡Datacenters

Datacenters, also known as server farms, are large facilities that house numerous servers used for cloud storage and other data-intensive operations. The video script points out that these buildings are filled with servers holding cloud data and require substantial amounts of energy to operate, which often comes from fossil fuels, contributing to environmental concerns.

💡Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of cloud storage and datacenters is a central theme in the video. It discusses how the operation of these facilities consumes energy and water, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and water scarcity. The video suggests that the environmental impact is significant and needs to be addressed.

💡Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which are often used to generate electricity for datacenters. The script mentions that in 2014, 1.8% of US electricity consumption was attributed to datacenters, implying a reliance on fossil fuels and the associated environmental consequences.

💡Energy Consumption

Energy consumption in the context of the video pertains to the significant amount of electricity required to power datacenters. The video provides a comparison, stating that datacenters' energy usage is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of the state of New Jersey, highlighting the scale of the issue.

💡Water Consumption

Water consumption by datacenters is another environmental concern raised in the video. It is mentioned that US datacenters directly and indirectly consume the equivalent of over 200,000 Olympic-size swimming pools of water each year, indicating the large-scale use of water resources for cooling and other operations.

💡Deletion

Deletion is the act of removing or erasing data, such as old emails and photos, from cloud storage. The video suggests that reducing the amount of data stored in the cloud can lead to fewer data centers needing to be built and maintained, which in turn would reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and water.

💡Sustainable Practices

Sustainable practices refer to methods and techniques that aim to reduce environmental impact and promote the long-term health of ecosystems. The video encourages viewers to engage with data center companies to encourage them to adopt more sustainable practices, which could have a significant long-term impact on the environment.

💡Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global warming. The video script connects the energy consumption of datacenters to the production of greenhouse gases, emphasizing the need for more sustainable energy sources.

💡Voice

In the context of the video, 'voice' refers to the power of individuals to influence change by communicating their concerns and preferences to companies and organizations. The script suggests that using one's voice to advocate for sustainable practices in data centers can have a meaningful environmental impact.

💡Netflix

Netflix is mentioned in the video as an example of a service that uses data center resources. The script points out that leaving Netflix on overnight consumes energy and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, suggesting that turning off the TV before sleep can be a simple action to reduce environmental impact.

Highlights

The cloud we've all heard of it, we almost all use it, but did you know it's impacting our environment and not in a good way?

When data such as photos, videos, emails and apps go into cloud storage, they don't just disappear into thin air, they get stored on a physical server.

Those servers are often housed in large facilities called datacenters or server farms.

These massive buildings are filled with tower after tower of servers holding all of our cloud data.

According to Landon Marston, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, these buildings often need substantial amounts of energy to operate.

That energy usually comes at a cost in the form of fossil fuels.

In 2014, 1.8% of US electricity consumption was attributed to datacenters, roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of the state of New Jersey.

According to Marston, they also consume significant amounts of water.

U.S. data centers directly and indirectly consume the equivalent of over 200,000 Olympic-size swimming pools each year of water.

Start by deleting old emails and photos to help reduce the need for data centers.

The less data is stored on the cloud, the fewer data centers need to be built and maintained.

This means less fossil fuels burned and less water consumed.

Turn off the TV before you go to bed to reduce data center resource usage.

Falling asleep to Netflix every night and waking up the next morning with it still on uses data center resources, which in turn uses energy.

Use your voice to reach out to large data center companies and shift them to more sustainable practices for a long-term impact on the environment.

Meteorologist Michaela Lucero emphasizes that the power to make an impact is at the tip of your finger.

Transcripts

The cloud we've all heard of it.

We almost all use it,

but did you know it's impacting our

environment and not in a good way

when data such as photos, videos,

emails and apps go into cloud storage?

They don't just disappear into thin air,

they get stored on a physical server.

Those servers are often housed

in large facilities called

datacenters or server farms.

These massive buildings are

filled with tower after tower

of servers holding all of our

cloud data.

According to Landon Marston,

a professor of civil and environmental

engineering at Virginia Tech,

these buildings often need substantial

amounts of energy to operate,

and that energy usually

comes at a cost in the form

of fossil fuels. In 2014,

one point 8% of US electricity

consumption was attributed

to datacenters that's roughly

equivalent to electricity consumption

of the state of New Jersey.

According to Marston, they also consume

significant amounts of water. U.S. data

centers directly and indirectly consume

the equivalent of over 200,000 Olympic

size swimming pools each year of water.

So what can we do to help? Start

by deleting old emails and photos.

The less data is stored on the cloud,

the fewer data centers need

to be built and maintained,

which means less fossil fuels

burned and less water consumed.

Next, Marston says turn off

the TV before you go to bed.

If you fall asleep to

Netflix every night, you wake up

the next morning, it's still on.

So that's using data center resources,

which in turn is using energy and

having implications as far as greenhouse

gases and water consumption. But

the most important thing of all,

use your voice, Marcin suggests

reaching out to large data center.

Companies engage with these companies

and shift them to more sustainable practices.

That's going to have a long term

impact on the environment than perhaps

now we turn Netflix off at night.

Putting the power to make an impact

here at the tip of your finger

meteorologist Michaela Lucero, W. USA 9.