Energy Use · E-Waste · Manufacturing · Green Computing
CSZoneEdexcel GCSE Computer Science 1CP2
Energy Consumption
Computing's Power Hunger
Data centres that power cloud services, streaming, and AI run 24/7 and require enormous electricity. Global ICT accounts for approximately 2–4% of CO₂ emissions — comparable to the aviation industry. Cooling alone can account for 40% of a data centre's energy use.
Cryptocurrency mining (e.g. Bitcoin) is extremely energy-intensive — a single transaction uses as much energy as hundreds of thousands of credit card transactions
Streaming one hour of HD video generates around 36g of CO₂; data centres account for the majority
E-Waste
Discarded Technology
Electronic waste (e-waste): discarded electronics including phones, computers, TVs, and batteries. The world produces over 50 million tonnes of e-waste per year — one of the fastest-growing waste streams.
Devices contain toxic materials: lead, mercury, cadmium — these leach into soil and water if not properly disposed of
Rare earth metals (used in screens, batteries): environmentally destructive to mine; finite supply
Planned obsolescence: manufacturers design devices to be replaced quickly, increasing waste
Green Computing
Reducing the Digital Footprint
Renewable-powered data centres: Google, Apple and Microsoft have committed to 100% renewable energy for their data centres
Energy-efficient hardware: ARM processors use far less power than traditional x86 chips (used in phones, tablets)
Device repairability and longevity: right-to-repair movements; repairing devices instead of replacing them
Recycling programmes: manufacturers offer trade-in and recycling schemes to recover valuable materials
Exam Practice
Have a go at this question
Edexcel-style question
Describe two ways that organisations can reduce the environmental impact of their use of ICT.
4 marks
Use energy-efficient servers and hardware [1] to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions [1]. Power data centres with renewable energy sources such as solar or wind [1] to eliminate fossil fuel use for ICT operations [1].
Key Takeaways
What to Remember
Data centres: massive energy consumers; ICT = ~2–4% of global CO₂ emissions