Introduction to Sustainable IT Practices

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of the community members are from large companies?

14%

27%

20%

24% (correct)

Which sector has the least representation in the community?

NGO's and associations (correct)

Public sector

Education

SMEs

Which of the following actions is NOT mentioned as part of the community's efforts?

Provide guides, tools, and trainings

Share knowledge and expertise

Conduct scientific research (correct)

Promote good practices

What proportion of the community consists of IT companies?

14% Signup and view all the answers

Which group is represented by 27% of the total community members?

Public sector Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the community's roles related to Sustainable IT?

Serve as a reference point in the field Signup and view all the answers

What action does the community take regarding organizations' strategies?

Accompany organizations’ strategies in Sustainable IT Signup and view all the answers

Which sector has a representation of 9% in the community?

Education Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge of recycling compared to mining?

Mining is generally cheaper. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does online video usage have on global electricity demand?

It contributes to increased electricity demand. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about global internet traffic growth?

Global internet traffic has seen a 317% increase from 2010 to 2016. Signup and view all the answers

In 2017, how much data was created globally according to the document?

26 zetabytes Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of global electricity consumption do Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) account for?

5% Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable feature of the evolution of mobile network transfer capacities?

There is significant growth in transfer capacities. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does recycling of metals face when handling small quantities?

Economies of scale make collection inefficient. Signup and view all the answers

What trend is observed concerning the volume of consumed data from 2010 to 2025?

Consumption is expected to increase significantly. Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended practice for managing device charging?

Maintain a charge level between 20% and 80%. Signup and view all the answers

Which action is advised to limit unnecessary video consumption?

Use audio-only platforms for music when possible. Signup and view all the answers

What should be avoided to reduce the impact of data on equipment?

Saturating data on your devices. Signup and view all the answers

What does monitoring screen time relate to?

Thinking about digital well-being. Signup and view all the answers

Which digital practice helps with understanding the use of personal data?

Recognizing dark patterns in digital services. Signup and view all the answers

What is the average amount of material required to produce a smartphone?

80 kg Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of digital equipment's lifecycle has the most significant impact?

Production phase Signup and view all the answers

How many chemical elements were typically present in smartphones during the 2000s?

65 elements Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions does the digital sector account for?

3 - 5% Signup and view all the answers

Which smartphone model's CO2 emissions are listed as 83 kg CO2e for the 512GB version?

iPhone 15 Pro Signup and view all the answers

Which approach is NOT one of the pillars of Sustainable IT?

Improving digital marketing strategies Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized as essential alongside individual actions for sustainability?

Structural and systemic change Signup and view all the answers

What is the environmental consequence of the extraction of materials for digital devices?

Huge pollution for tiny quantities Signup and view all the answers

How much CO2 emissions does the iPhone 15 Pro generate for the lowest storage option (128GB)?

66 kg CO2e Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of using IT according to the Sustainable IT principles?

Reduce the environmental footprint of mankind Signup and view all the answers

In which decade did the number of elements in phones rise to 17?

1990s Signup and view all the answers

How is the carbon footprint of ICT expected to align with future emissions goals?

It should decrease in a decarbonised world. Signup and view all the answers

According to the presentation, what is needed for comprehensive change in sustainability efforts?

Political engagement and organizational actions Signup and view all the answers

Production of digital devices often results in what type of environmental impact?

Export of pollution Signup and view all the answers

Which option describes a key part of 'doing your part' in sustainability?

Recognizing the need for collective change Signup and view all the answers

What should be the focus of individual actions in the context of Sustainable IT?

Contributing to a broader collective effort Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to digital technologies?

7% Signup and view all the answers

Which law suggests that computer processing capacity doubles every two years?

Moore's Law Signup and view all the answers

What does Wirth’s Law indicate about programs and hardware?

Programs are becoming larger and heavier, slowing down computers. Signup and view all the answers

What form of obsolescence does not apply to hardware?

Environmental obsolescence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a societal aspect of IT use?

E-commerce Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended action to combat programmed obsolescence?

Repair and upgrade components. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following practices does NOT contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of digital technologies?

Upgrading entire machines frequently. Signup and view all the answers

Which action is emphasized as part of governance related to digital use?

Eco-design of digital services. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT

The Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT) is an organization focused on sustainable IT practices.
The presentation is an introduction to sustainable IT.
The presentation date is September 25, 2024.
Sara Michielsen is the communication and administration coordinator for ISIT.

Digital Sector's GHG Emissions

The digital sector accounts for 5-10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Carbon Footprint of ICT

Worldwide annual CO2 emissions follow a trajectory predicted for a 1.5°C warming scenario.

Environmental Impacts of ICT

ICT is a polluting industry leading to resource depletion and energy consumption.
It leads to waste generation including the consumption of water, metals, rare earths, and electricity.

Four Pillars of Sustainable IT

Green IT: Reduce the environmental footprint of IT.
Use IT to reduce the environmental footprint of mankind.
Human IT: Promote ethical, accessible, and inclusive IT.
Put IT at the service of people.

Reducing the French Average Carbon Footprint

Individual actions (e.g., buying second-hand, consuming locally, using bicycles, vegetarian diet) are part of the solution but systemic change is also needed.
A collective change is essential within organizations and at the political level.
The presentation highlights realistic changes in individual behavior and investments to achieve a systemic change in lowering carbon footprint.

ISIT Members

ISIT has 77 members in Belgium.
Members include a diverse range of organizations from the public sector, education, NGOs, IT companies and large companies.

Actions of ISIT

Promote good practices
Provide guides, tools, and training
Share knowledge and expertise
Accompany organizations' strategies in Sustainable IT
Serve as a reference point in the field

Impact of IT

The presentation poses a question about the impacts of IT.
The digital infrastructure includes user equipment, networks, and data centers.
The presentation shows a breakdown of digital world impact sources (2019):
- User Equipment (60% of energy, 63% of GHG, 83% of water use, 44% of electricity, and 75% of ADP)
- Network (23% of energy, 22% of GHG, 9% of water, 32% of electricity, and 16% of ADP)
- Data centers (17% of energy, 15% of GHG, 7% of water, 24% of electricity, and 8% of ADP).
The impact of IT equipment is discussed, and the material requirement to build a smartphone is mentioned.
The environmental impact of producing a given technology, such as phones, is mostly situated in the production phase.

Recycling and Circular Economy

Mining remains cheaper than recycling, highlighting a challenge for sustainable practices.
Some challenges related to recycling include small quantities of metals in electronic devices, and difficulties caused by complex structure of the devices.
The presentation data reveals that e-waste generation and formal recycling rates are very slow and do not outpace e-waste production.

Impact of Uses

The use of different internet services has huge impact, and video content is the largest contributer to online data flow.

The presentation states a question about what % of global energy consumption is used by ICT.
An answer is offered (10%).

Data Generation

The volume and amount of data generated and consumed worldwide is increasing.
Data transfer capacity in mobile networks has increased significantly over time.

Equipment and Uses Linking

The presenter asks about links between devices and usage in terms of sustainable IT.
The presenter states that the most influential factor determining ICT's impact is usage, more than equipment.

Societal Aspects of IT

Various societal implications of IT usage are identified and discussed.

Actions to Take

The presentation poses a question about actionable steps regarding the sustainability of IT.
Different aspects of IT need attention for its sustainability, including (but not limited to) equipment, digital uses, governance, and eco-design.

Contradictory Injunctions

Sustainability in ICT faces conflicts between factors such as economic growth and environment.
This section includes a word cloud expressing those conflicts.

Broader Perspective of IT

The presentation suggests thinking globally about sustainability in ICT to address impacts beyond hardware and software.
To analyze societal impacts, factors like accessibility, cybersecurity, health, inclusion, ethics, and well-being needs attention.
A deeper analysis of the IT system on a broader basis is necessary.

Areas of Action

Several areas of action for Sustainable IT are highlighted to consider the different life cycles of the device.

Key Best Practices

The presentation provides a few key practices for individuals and companies to promote sustainability in IT.

Public Resources of the INR/ISIT Network

The presentation provides access to different documents, calculators, reports, and webinars related to Sustainable IT to help understand how to approach sustainability.

Measuring Tool WeNR

A tool (WeNR) is provided to measure the carbon footprint of organizations' IT infrastructure.

Books on Sustainable IT

The presentation lists different books regarding sustainable IT for learning and knowledge sharing.

Business on Dead Planet

A cartoon presents a metaphor of the challenge to operate business in a hostile and polluted environment.

Contact ISIT

The presentation contains contact methods available to communicate with and learn more about ISIT.

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Description

This quiz provides an overview of sustainable IT practices introduced by the Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT. It covers the environmental impacts of ICT, greenhouse gas emissions from the digital sector, and the four pillars of sustainable IT. Perfect for understanding how IT can contribute to a greener future.