Digital

Cameras off during online meetings

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Objectives

• More conscious use of web-cam (think data transmission) to reduce CO2 emissions / energy consumption

Green Value indicator

CO2 savings

Explanation

A general rule to remember is that every mb of data or every internet service requires electric energy on some server in the world. Although energy intensity for internet services (kWh/GB) has been decreasing globally, the amount of data (GB) sent around the world has increased (5 times between 2010 and 2015), so as a result this efficiency was not enough to lead to lower emissions, something known as the rebound-effect. Online video conferences are a normality today but were literally non-existent in the early 2000s. Audio calls necessitate less data than standard video calls which necessitate less data than high-definition video calls.
As less data means less energy, audio calls require much less energy than video calls. Globally, carbon emissions are estimated to range from 28-63 g CO2 per GB. Depending on the software and the internet connection, a video call between two people requires between 100-900MB/h, audio around 60mb/h (Öko-Institut).
That means a video-call for two people generates between 2.8 and 56.7 g CO2/h. Yet, any video conference requires hardware, i.e., a computer, which consumes additional energy. Thus, a one-hour video call is estimated to emit around 183 g CO2/h per person (Öko-Institut). While other sources estimate it to be between 150-1000 grams of CO2, depending on the definition – high-definition transmits more data thus emits more CO2. An audio call instead is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 96%.
Therefore, if you want to reduce CO2 emissions, you might want to reduce the definition of your video calls or switch to audio-only meetings.
It also shows that internet meetings are greener than face-to-face meetings (see related good practice example), but still have to be used prudently and there are things to be aware of.

PROS/CONS of the action

Pros:

• gives you another good reason to not turn on your camera when you feel unphotogenic (#badhairday)

Cons:

• with more than 3 people at a meeting it is hard to see the reactions to something a speaker says
• makes online meetings even less tangible and interactive: the visual brings in some social aspects

Certified

Not Certified

Link to useful sources

Sources: DigitalerCO2-Fußabdruck: Datensammlung zur Abschätzung von Herstellungsaufwand, Energieverbrauch und Nutzung digitaler Endgeräte und Dienste

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Renee Obringer, Benjamin Rachunok, Debora Maia-Silva, Maryam Arbabzadeh, Roshanak Nateghi, Kaveh Madani: “The overlooked environmental footprint of increasing Internet use”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 167, 2021, 105389. Resources, Conservation and Recycling

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The carbon footprint of our digital lifestyles

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The hidden pollution cost of online meetings

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The overlooked environmental footprint of increasing Internet use

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Turn off that camera during virtual meetings, environmental study says

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