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The Direct Energy Demand of Internet Data Flows

Author

Listed:
  • Vlad C. Coroama
  • Lorenz M. Hilty
  • Ernst Heiri
  • Frank M. Horn

Abstract

The direct energy demand of Internet data flows can be assessed using a variety of methodological approaches (top‐down, bottom‐up, or hybrid/model based) and different definitions of system boundaries. Because of this diversity, results reported in the literature differ by up to two orders of magnitude and are difficult to compare. We present a first assessment that uses a pure bottom‐up approach and a system boundary that includes only transmission equipment. The assessment is based on the case study of a 40 megabit per second videoconferencing transmission between Switzerland and Japan, yielding a consumption of 0.2 kilowatt‐hours per transmitted gigabyte for 2009, a result that supports the lowest of the existing estimates. We discuss the practical implications of our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Vlad C. Coroama & Lorenz M. Hilty & Ernst Heiri & Frank M. Horn, 2013. "The Direct Energy Demand of Internet Data Flows," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 17(5), pages 680-688, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:17:y:2013:i:5:p:680-688
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12048
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tova Billstein & Anna Björklund & Tomas Rydberg, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Network Traffic: A Review of Challenges and Possible Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Elheddad, Mohamed & Benjasak, Chonlakan & Deljavan, Rana & Alharthi, Majed & Almabrok, Jaballa M., 2021. "The effect of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the environment: The relationship between electronic finance and pollution in OECD countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    3. Roland Hischier, 2018. "Car vs. Packaging—A First, Simple (Environmental) Sustainability Assessment of Our Changing Shopping Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Zafar, Muhammad Wasif & Zaidi, Syed Anees Haider & Mansoor, Sadia & Sinha, Avik & Qin, Quande, 2022. "ICT and education as determinants of environmental quality: The role of financial development in selected Asian countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    5. Yunsun Kim & Sahm Kim, 2021. "Electricity Load and Internet Traffic Forecasting Using Vector Autoregressive Models," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(18), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Hanna Pihkola & Mikko Hongisto & Olli Apilo & Mika Lasanen, 2018. "Evaluating the Energy Consumption of Mobile Data Transfer—From Technology Development to Consumer Behaviour and Life Cycle Thinking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Salahuddin, Mohammad & Alam, Khorshed & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2016. "The effects of Internet usage and economic growth on CO2 emissions in OECD countries: A panel investigation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1226-1235.
    8. Anders S. G. Andrae & Tomas Edler, 2015. "On Global Electricity Usage of Communication Technology: Trends to 2030," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-41, April.
    9. Wen-Cheng Lu, 2018. "The impacts of information and communication technology, energy consumption, financial development, and economic growth on carbon dioxide emissions in 12 Asian countries," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 1351-1365, December.
    10. Antonio Cavallin Toscani & Atalay Atasu & Luk N. Van Wassenhove & Andrea Vinelli, 2023. "Life cycle assessment of in‐person, virtual, and hybrid academic conferences: New evidence and perspectives," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1461-1475, December.

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