As artificial intelligence and modern software development continue to expand, concerns over energy consumption and environmental impact are gaining attention. Increased computing power has enabled more complex software, but it has also led to inefficiencies including wasted data center space, excessive network traffic, and higher energy consumption. Research from Accenture indicates that the technology sector’s carbon footprint increased from 1.5 percent to 4 percent between 2007 and 2022, with projections suggesting it could reach 14 percent by 2040. GPUs, which consume energy at ten times the rate of other semiconductors, contribute significantly to this rise. While organizations have adopted more efficient hardware, software inefficiencies remain a challenge, affecting costs and sustainability goals.
To address these concerns, IT leaders are focusing on sustainable software development, using metrics and tools to track energy and water consumption and optimize performance. The Green Software Foundation and other such consulting firms are working to establish industry standards and best practices, such as the Software Carbon Intensity Specification. Energy-efficient coding practices, carbon-aware computing, and optimized AI models can help reduce environmental impact. Small adjustments, like using energy-efficient programming languages and minimizing unnecessary data transfers, can lead to meaningful reductions in emissions and energy costs over time.
