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The Climate Cost of AI and How To Stop It
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is changing how we work, create, and solve problems. While it makes life easier in many ways, it also impacts the environment. Let’s explore why that happens and what decision-makers can do about it.
How AI Affects the Environment
AI depends on massive computers in data centers to run tasks like answering questions or creating images. Every time you use AI, these computers use electricity, and the more we use AI, the more electricity they need. Big companies like Google and Microsoft run these data centers, and despite efforts to go green, their carbon emissions are increasing.
Why should you care? Because extreme weather—caused by climate change—makes life harder for everyone, including businesses. For example, hotter temperatures can damage data centers, causing downtime and higher costs.
AI’s Energy Use
AI needs much more electricity than simple internet searches. For instance:
- A single ChatGPT question uses 10x more electricity than a Google search.
- AI’s growing popularity means its energy use could make up 3.5% of the world’s electricity needs by 2030, similar to how much the farming industry uses today.
Most of this energy still comes from fossil fuels, which release harmful carbon emissions. Some companies say they’re “carbon neutral,” but that often means they invest in green energy elsewhere without actually reducing their emissions.
How This Impacts Businesses
When data centers use more electricity, they cost more to run. Plus, keeping their servers cool takes even more power. For example:
- In 2022, overheating caused a day-long outage at a major Google data center in London.
- As temperatures rise, such issues will become more common, leading to more disruptions and higher expenses.
Businesses might also face stricter environmental rules in the future, such as carbon taxes, adding another layer of cost.
Easy Ways to Reduce AI’s Climate Impact
Even if you don’t run a data center, choosing environmentally friendly services helps lower costs and future-proof your business.
- Pick Green Locations
Data centers in places like Iceland use 100% renewable energy and rely on the cold climate for natural cooling. This reduces electricity use and costs. - Use Energy-Efficient Hardware
Modern chips and processors, like AMD’s EPYC CPUs, use less power but still perform well. While these upgrades might cost more upfront, they save money in the long run. - Check Energy Efficiency Scores
A simple PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) metric shows how efficiently a data center uses energy. A score close to 1 means less waste. Look for providers with a low PUE, like those in Iceland, which can reach as low as 1.05.
Why Act Now
AI and data centers will keep growing, but their environmental impact doesn’t have to. Businesses that adopt greener practices now will save money and avoid future problems like stricter regulations or service failures.
Sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. Acting today ensures success tomorrow—for your business and the planet.
Our team is constantly working on solutions that combine innovation with sustainability. If you're interested in learning how, send us a message to sales@kenility.com