Greening the Code: 5 Benefits of Energy Efficient Software
In a recent interview with InfoQ, Adrian Cockcroft discusses sustainability in software development and operations. He emphasizes that optimizing for saving money by making code more efficient can also save carbon, providing specific ideas for developers, such as: using better algorithms and highly optimized libraries, compressing and storing less information, and tuning mobile apps to use less power.
Cockcroft also recommends several open-source projects aimed at measuring the energy use of Kubernetes based workloads. Finally, he highlights the importance of measurement standardization to compare the environmental impact of cloud suppliers and suggests using the AWS Well Architected Pillar for Sustainability and the Azure Well Architected guide for cloud optimization guidance.
Green software is making its way across the technology and communications industries, as Nokia has announced an upgrade to its AVA Energy efficiency software, designed to help communication service providers (CSPs) reduce electricity consumption in their networks. The enhanced algorithms and power-saving measures use improved machine learning techniques to enable CSPs to lower power consumption in data centers, network base stations, batteries, and air conditioning units. Nokia AVA Energy efficiency software is a multi-vendor tool that can help realize reduced power usage of up to 30%, with the option to automatically shutdown idling and unused equipment. CSPs spend between 3% and 20% of their total revenue on energy costs, making efficient energy consumption an increasingly important aspect of network operations.
New sustainable software developments, as demonstrated by Nokia’s AVA software, could have significant positive environmental impacts at scale, such as:
Reduced carbon emissions: By optimizing software to use less energy, companies could reduce the amount of electricity required to power their data centers and other computing infrastructure. This could lead to a significant reduction in carbon emissions, as the electricity required to power these systems is often generated from fossil fuels.
Lower energy consumption: Green software can help reduce energy consumption in data centers and other computing infrastructure. This not only lowers carbon emissions, but it also saves money on energy bills and reduces the need for new data centers to be built.
Improved resource efficiency: Green software can help optimize resource usage and reduce waste. For example, software can be designed to compress and store less data, which reduces the amount of storage and computing resources required. This can reduce the need for new hardware to be produced and lower the amount of e-waste generated when old hardware is discarded.
Increased use of renewable energy: Some tech companies are already investing heavily in renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, to power their operations. By adopting green software, these companies can further reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and increase the amount of renewable energy they use.
Setting an example for other industries: Tech companies have a significant impact on the global economy and society, and their adoption of green software can set an example for other industries to follow. This can lead to a broader shift towards sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of many other industries.
The shift towards green software in the tech sector has the potential to bring about significant positive environmental impacts. Adoption of green software by tech companies can set an example for other industries, leading to a broader shift towards sustainability and a reduction in the environmental impact of many other industries.
