Google and the “Carbon Costs”

Google may not be usually associated with carbon dioxide issues. However, being at the top of the ‘technological food chain’, Google is being used as an example of how even an internet search item on your computer can contribute to global emissions:

“…Dr Wissner-Gross’s study claims that two Google searches on a desktop computer produces 14g of CO2, which is the roughly the equivalent of boiling an electric kettle.

The Harvard academic argues that these carbon emissions stem from the electricity used by the computer terminal and by the power consumed by the large data centres operated by Google around the world.”

link: ‘Carbon cost’ of Google revealed

Google may add to the “carbon costs”. However, if one compares a Google search to starting the car and visiting the local library, then it gives the environmental impact some perspective.

Catherine Forsythe