Welcome to the third edition of the Jisc Digital Sustainability Newsletter! Each month we delve into the latest news, trends, and insights at the intersection of technology and environmental sustainability.
If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our DIGITAL-SUSTAINABILITY JiscMail mailing list to be notified about the release future editions of the Digital Sustainability Newsletter.
Digital Sustainability at Jisc:
Digital Sustainability Working Group
As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new FE & Skills Digital Sustainability Working Group on 25th April.
This collaborative initiative is designed for professionals in the Further Education and Skills Sectors to come together, share knowledge, and address challenges related to sustainable digital resource usage. Our informal online meetings will be held once every two months, covering various topics at the intersection of ICT and sustainability.
Whether you work in ICT, sustainability, or simply curious about these topics, we welcome you to join us. Express your interest by filling out this form to receive invitations to our bi-monthly meetings and access to resources and tools.
Feel free to invite others from your organisation or network who may be interested. For inquiries, please contact Jisc’s Subject Specialist for Sustainability, Cal Innes, at cal.innes@jisc.ac.uk.
Latest News:
Here’s a roundup of some of the interesting digital sustainability news and developments from the last month across the UK and beyond. Click on the headline to find out more.
The University of Strathclyde to lead £1.5M AI Space Sustainability Project
When considering environmental sustainability, our focus often remains confined to Earth, yet it extends beyond our planet to encompass the space surrounding Earth’s atmosphere. This broader perspective drives global experts from various institutions and commercial space companies to collaborate on a £1.5M AI Space Sustainability project, led by the University of Strathclyde’s Aerospace Centre for Excellence. Their aim is to develop AI technologies to enhance space operations, safety, and sustainability, addressing challenges such as space debris congestion through machine learning and potentially establishing a virtual Institute on AI for Space Safety & Sustainability to sustain this crucial endeavour.
UK Government Looks to AI Innovation Projects to Deliver Green Boost
The UK government is investing £1.73m in cutting-edge AI technology to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions across key sectors of the economy, with eight projects, including those involving Digital Catapult and The Alan Turing Institute, set to receive funding to develop and scale up AI solutions aimed at supporting the country’s green transition. These initiatives, which involve collaboration with research institutions such as the University of Nottingham, span from improving weather forecasting for solar energy production to assisting consumers and businesses in enhancing energy efficiency and cutting costs through AI-optimised software.
Data Centre Power Use ‘to surge six-fold in 10 years.’
The National Grid predicts that the rise in artificial intelligence and quantum computing will significantly increase energy consumption, particularly from data centres, with CEO John Pettigrew urging for urgent action to address the growing demand. As demand for energy-intensive technologies escalates, modernising the grid is essential to sustainably meet future electricity needs, particularly as data centres become integral to daily life despite their environmental impact.
Aiven Partners with Thoughtworks to Tackle Sustainability Goals
Finish open-source data platform company Aiven has teamed up with global tech consultancy Thoughtworks to address the environmental impact of the ICT industry. The partnership aims to align with open-source data principals to digitally conduct sustainability assessments amidst growing demands for transparency in resource usage to aid carbon footprint management.
Resource Corner:
Each month we will shine the spotlight on a digital sustainability resource which we hope you might find useful.
This month, we’d like to share Digital Carbon Footprint Calculator from the non-profit organisation Digital Emissions. This innovative tool allows you to estimate your personal carbon footprint stemming from various digital activities, including streaming videos and music, internet browsing, and social media usage. Whether it’s a Google search, a ChatGPT prompt, or scrolling on social media, this calculator provides insights into the carbon emissions associated with your digital lifestyle.
The Carbon Footprint Calculator is free to use and can be accessed here.
Member Highlights:
In our monthly member highlights, we turn the green spotlight onto one of Jisc’s members in FE and HE who are implementing noteworthy digital sustainability initiatives.
In previous editions, we’ve highlighted single initiatives from our members. This month, we’d like to tell you all about Derby College Group (DCG), who have been showcasing their leadership in digital sustainability through a range of innovative practices, which we hope will act as positive inspiration for any of our readers out there who are looking for fresh ideas on how to tackle their own digital environmental impact.
DCG has proactively aligned hardware and practices with sustainability standards, emphasising device compliance and longevity for responsible life cycle management. Standardising hardware types and adopting eco-friendly configurations like Fujitsu power supply connectors and modern copiers exemplify their commitment to minimizing environmental impact while maximizing efficiency.
Through partnerships with environmentally responsible suppliers such as CSI Leasing, and collaborations with organisations like EnviroElectronics and Stone for responsible Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) disposal, DCG reduces electronic waste, adhering to circular economy principles of re-use, refurbish, and recycle.
In addition to hardware sustainability, DCG integrates eco-conscious practices into daily operations. Implementing tools like PaperCut Grows to manage paper consumption and adopting Ecosia as the default browser, they showcase a dedication to reducing environmental footprint across all levels.
Mollie Cox, DCG Environmental and Sustainability Officer, commented:
“At DCG, we are committed to implementing sustainability initiatives in all operational areas across the college, as this is not only crucial to minimising our carbon footprint in-line with the global sustainable development goals, but actively practicing sustainability fosters a culture of strong social responsibility, educating students about the importance of instilling eco-friendly practices in an organisation.”
DCGs comprehensive approach, spanning from hardware compliance to operational practices, sets a commendable example for institutions striving towards digital sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Digital Sustainability Articles:
Here are some of our favourite articles on digital sustainability from the last month:
Tips to improve IT sustainability
Cliff Saran, writing for Computer Weekly, shares his insights on how organizations can make their IT operations more sustainable. Top tips include recalibrating strategies to meet changing sustainability expectations, embracing regulatory compliance, and integrating environmental considerations throughout the IT lifecycle.
The Dawn of Eco-Friendly Systems Development
ICT expert, author and InfoWorld contributor David Linthicum advocates for a shift in developer ethics towards optimising code efficiency and embracing greener algorithms to reduce energy consumption without compromising performance
Confronting the AI Energy Drain
Writing for Information Week, Richard Pallardy offers an in-depth exploration of AI and Sustainability. The article delves into the energy-intensive nature of AI technology, exploring various strategies and challenges in making AI more sustainable, ranging from optimising hardware and algorithms to leveraging renewable energy sources and consumer pressure, while questioning the transparency and regulatory frameworks governing AI’s energy consumption.
Get Involved
We want to hear from you! Share your comments, suggestions, and digital sustainability highlights. Contact our Subject Specialist for Sustainability, Cal Innes, at cal.innes@jisc.ac.uk.
And don’t forget to subscribe to our DIGITAL-SUSTAINABILITY JiscMail mailing list for future editions of the Digital Sustainability Newsletter.
