Green Tech Best Practices

Lately, the Green Software Foundation unveiled a manifesto to reshape the software development culture within the tech industry. Their objective is to make sustainability an integral focus for software teams, on par with performance, security, cost, and accessibility.

According to researchers, software is expected to account for 14% of the world’s carbon footprint by 2040. The Foundation’s primary mission is to minimize the net change in global carbon emissions attributed to software. In a decision-making process, choices that support emissions reduction (abatement) are prioritized over emissions offsetting (neutralization). And every single week we see how leading companies like Globant, Thoughtworks, GitHub, Siemens, UBS, Microsoft, DXC Technology, VMware, and others join the movement and actively participate in furthering the mission.

Green Tech Overview

Green tech refers to a summary or an examination of software practices and technologies that are designed with a focus on environmental sustainability and reduced carbon footprint. This may include software development techniques, tools, and strategies aimed at creating applications and systems that are energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and contribute to a more sustainable digital ecosystem. It encompasses topics like energy-efficient coding practices, server optimization, reduced resource consumption, and minimizing the carbon impact of software operations. It aligns with the broader goal of reducing the environmental impact of the tech industry and promoting eco-friendly software solutions. 

Why Do More and More Companies Invest in Green Tech?

• Reduced Carbon Footprint
  green tech is designed to be more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption and, consequently, a lower carbon footprint. This contributes to the fight against climate change.

• Cost Savings
  Energy-efficient software often requires fewer resources to run, leading to cost savings for businesses and data centers.

• Improved Performance
  Green tech is often optimized for efficiency, which can lead to improved performance and faster response times.

• Sustainability Compliance
  Many organizations and governments are increasingly requiring eco-friendly practices. Green tech helps businesses meet these compliance requirements.

• Enhanced Reputation
  Embracing sustainability can boost an organization’s reputation and attract environmentally conscious customers and partners.

• Longevity
  Green tech is often built to last, reducing the need for frequent updates or replacements, which can be resource-intensive.

• Resource Conservation
  By reducing resource consumption (like server power and data storage), green tech helps conserve valuable resources.

• Market Competitiveness
  In a world where sustainability is a growing concern, green tech can give a competitive edge by meeting the expectations of eco-conscious customers.

• Innovation
  Developing green tech often requires innovative thinking, which can lead to new and better solutions.

• Global Impact
  When widely adopted, green tech can make a significant contribution to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

Green tech benefits the environment and offers advantages in terms of cost, performance, and reputation for organizations that adopt and promote eco-friendly software practices.

Software Developers can contribute to addressing environmental issues through “green tech” by focusing on developing sustainable, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible software solutions. Here are some initiatives, tools, and practices to help developers make a positive impact:

Green Tech Best Practices 

• Optimize code for energy efficiency, reducing CPU and memory usage. Use efficient algorithms and data structures to minimize resource consumption.

• Serverless Computing. Consider serverless architectures like AWS Lambda or Azure Functions, which can automatically scale to match the workload, reducing idle resource consumption.

• Virtualization and Containerization. Use virtualization and containerization technologies like Docker to optimize resource utilization and reduce energy consumption.

• Green Hosting. Choose hosting providers that use renewable energy sources or are committed to reducing their carbon footprint.

• Data Center Efficiency. Develop software with data center efficiency in mind, optimizing for minimal data transmission and storage.

• Green APIs. Develop APIs that are efficient in terms of data transfer and processing, reducing the energy required for data transfer.

• Renewable Energy Tracking. Create software that tracks and reports on energy usage, helping organizations make informed decisions about renewable energy adoption.

• Environmental Impact Assessment. Develop tools that assess the environmental impact of software, enabling organizations to make informed decisions about the sustainability of their technology stack.

• Carbon Accounting Tools. Create software that helps companies calculate their carbon footprint, providing insights into how software operations contribute to emissions.

• Sustainable Development Frameworks. Use sustainable software development frameworks and methodologies, such as Green Software Foundation’s Green Software Framework, to guide development practices.

• Eco-Friendly Design Principles. Apply principles of eco-friendly design, such as minimizing resource use, maximizing reuse, and optimizing for low energy consumption.

• Open Source Initiatives. Contribute to open-source projects that focus on green tech and sustainable technology solutions.

• Performance Monitoring. Use performance monitoring tools to identify resource-intensive components in your software and optimize them.

• Power Management Features. Implement power management features, like screen dimming and device sleep modes, in applications to reduce energy consumption on end-user devices.
  
• Eco-Friendly UX/UI Design. Design user interfaces that encourage eco-friendly behaviors, such as reducing printing, promoting digital communication, or opting for sustainable choices.

• Education and Awareness. Raise awareness within the developer community and the public about the importance of green tech and sustainable practices.

• Remote Work and Collaboration Tools. Develop or use tools that facilitate remote work and collaboration, reducing the need for commuting and office infrastructure.

• Lifecycle Management. Consider the full lifecycle of software, from development to disposal, and implement practices that minimize waste and energy consumption at every stage.

• Community and Collaboration. Collaborate with like-minded developers, organizations, and non-profits working on environmental initiatives, sharing knowledge and best practices.

• Certifications and Standards. Adhere to or seek certifications like ISO 14001, which focuses on environmental management systems, or other relevant industry standards.

By adopting these initiatives and practices, developers can make a meaningful contribution to addressing environmental issues through the development of green tech solutions, reducing the carbon footprint of the tech industry, and promoting sustainability.

Green Software Certification

With an ISO 14001 certification, developers can ensure that they and their company take its environmental impact seriously. 

The ISO 14001 series of standards equips organizations with the necessary tools to effectively address their environmental responsibilities and considerations. The 14001:2015 standard establishes criteria for Environmental Management Systems (EMS), offering a universal framework applicable to businesses across various industries. This certification ensures that the management, employees, and stakeholders can be confident that the environmental impact of the business is consistently measured, and ongoing improvements are being implemented.

Green Tech Interviews and Talks

In the current year, we initiated a series of interviews with experts in green tech to promote green tech practices and highlight impactful tools. During our events, influential figures in green tech share their case studies and recent discoveries on this topic. Subscribe to our green talks on our YouTube channel and join us in the journey of learning!

Green Tech Useful Links

In the course of our discussions on green tech, green tech practitioners  have provided supplementary valuable resources and tools that could assist you on your path to adopting greener practices: 

🍃 https://greensoftware.foundation/

🍃 measure the carbon footprint of your website here: https://en.reset.org/whats-carbon-footprint-your-website/ 

🍃 what is the carbon intensity of your country right now: https://app.electricitymaps.com/map 

🍃 Green Software Practitioners Course: https://training.linuxfoundation.org/training/green-software-for-practitioners-lfc131/ 

🍃 Software Carbon Intensity Guide: https://sci-guide.greensoftware.foundation/ 

🍃 Green Software Carbon Aware SDK and Web API: https://github.com/Green-Software-Foundation/awesome-green-software 

🍃 International Energy Agency – Data Centre energy use, emissions, and activities to reduce emissions: https://www.iea.org/energy-system/buildings/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks 

🍃 AWS Customer Carbon Footprint Tool: https://aws.amazon.com/aws-cost-management/aws-customer-carbon-footprint-tool/ 

🍃 Azure Carbon Tacking Tool: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sustainability/emissions-impact-dashboard 

🍃 Cloud Carbon Footprint (Open Source tracking software for cloud usage): https://www.cloudcarbonfootprint.org/ 

🍃 Code Carbon (Track and reduce emissions from AI): https://codecarbon.io/ 

🍃 Dr Sasha Luccioni’s TED talk on the dangers of AI including environmental impact: https://www.ted.com/talks/sasha_luccioni_ai_is_dangerous_but_not_for_the_reasons_you_think?language=en 

If you’re keen on collaborating with us on green tech initiatives or if you’d like to develop a green tech project, we’re here for you. We would love to know more!