Why Green Software Matters
Estimates put the digital sector at 2-4% of global greenhouse gas emissions [Gitnux]. This is comparable to the aviation industry. As AI adoption accelerates - and awareness of its energy demands grows - green software is becoming more critical than ever.
Software's carbon footprint is becoming harder to ignore. There is more responsibility on the IT industry to be aware of their carbon emissions. One of the key organisations here is the Green Software Foundation.
What is the Green Software Foundation?
It is the main body focused on green software standards.
It was established in May 2021 under the umbrella of the Linux Foundation. The founding members include Microsoft, Accenture, GitHub and ThoughtWorks.
Green Software Practitioner Certification Overview
How much does the course cost?
It's free!
Who is it for?
Anyone involved in building, deploying or managing software.
How long does it take?
2 - 3 hours.
Course Topics
Carbon Efficiency
Understanding the impact of GHGs on our Environment and how this relates to software’s carbon footprint.
Energy Efficiency
Using the least amount of energy possible. Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) metric of data centres. Energy proportionality; the relationship between power consumption of a computer and the rate at which useful work is done.
Carbon Awareness
"Do more when the electricity is cleaner and less when it is dirtier."
Electricity generated at night time is cleaner than that generated during the day (roughly!). This is the basis for Temporal Shifting - moving processing to times of the day when carbon intensity is lower.
Electricity is cleaner in some locations (countries) than in others. This is the basis for Spatial Shifting - moving processing or hosting to countries or regions where carbon intensity is lower.
Hardware Efficiency
"Use the least amount of embodied carbon possible."
The embodied carbon within server infrastructure is high. This is amortized over the lifespan of that equipment. Maximizing usage makes the best use of that embodied carbon.
Measurement
GHG - Greehouse Gas protocol. The process of dividing emissions into scopes 1, 2 & 3.
SCI - Software Carbon Intensity. Methodology for scoring a software application along a dimension of sustainability. This is analagous to the mpg efficiency of a car.
Climate Commitments
"Understand the exact mechanism of carbon reduction."
Ways to reduce and eliminate emissions. Describes and clarifies the terms "net zero", "carbon neutral", "carbon negative" and "climate neutral".
In Summary
Software has a real and tangible environmental impact. As developers, we’re in a position to influence it. Done well, this means lower emissions and more efficient, cost-effective systems.
The Green Software Practitioner Certification is a simple but effective way to start building that awareness.