DID YOU KNOW that simply reading this blog contributes to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions? It's true. While you're absorbing information and considering its implications, the very act of accessing this page has an environmental impact. In our increasingly digital world, it's easy to overlook the tangible cost of our online experiences.

Take the viral 'Ghibli' trend: those enchanting AI-generated images come with a hidden price. As Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, remarked that the GPUs were "melting"  under the strain. Each click, each render, each scroll adds to a growing digital footprint, a silent surge of energy we rarely see.

As of February 2025, approximately 5.56 billion people worldwide are internet users, representing 67.9% of the global population. That's a staggering number of devices, data centers, and network connections constantly in use.

But what does this massive connectivity mean for our planet? The environmental impact of the internet is substantial, with its carbon footprint now surpassing that of the AVIATION INDUSTRY.

According to a 2023 report from the Columbia Climate School, internet usage accounts for between 2.5% and 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.That's right, the digital world's emissions have OUTSTRIPPED those of the planes in the sky. (Source:https://www.climateimpact.com)

Let's Follow Your Data: The Internet's Energy Implications

To truly grasp the energy implications of our online actions, let's visualize the journey of data when you interact with the internet. Imagine you're scrolling through your social media feed, reading this blog, or sending an email. The path your information takes is more complex than you might think.

‍

This diagram illustrates the typical flow of data. It begins with your device, where you initiate the action. Your request then travels through your internet connection and onward to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). From there, it enters the network backbone, a vast system of routers and cables that form the core of the internet. Ultimately, the data reaches the data center, where websites and online services store their information. The requested data is retrieved and then retraces this path back to your device.

Data Centers: The Power Behind Your Screen And Their Carbon Impact

When we looked at how data travels on the internet, you saw data centers pop up. They're like the backstage crew of the digital world, working hard so everything online runs smoothly.

What are Data Centers, Really?

Think of them as huge rooms filled with powerful computers, called servers. They store and process all the information that makes websites and online services work.

Energy Consumption in Data Centers: A Two-Fold Impact

Data center energy consumption can be broken into two main categories: operational and embodied carbon.

Energy Consumption in Data Centers

A. Operational Carbon (Energy Used in Running Data Centers)

• Server Operation: Thousands of high-performance servers run 24/7, consuming massive amounts of electricity.
• Cooling Systems: Heat generated by servers requires energy-intensive air conditioning or liquid cooling.
• Power Backup: Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and diesel generators ensure uptime, adding to operational energy consumption.

Fact: According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centers accounted for 1-1.5% of global electricity demand in 2022. (IEA)

B. Embodied Carbon (Energy Used in Manufacturing Data Centers)

The energy footprint of data centers is not just about operations manufacturing plays a crucial role:

• Servers & Hardware: Production of high-performance processors, memory, and storage devices requires energy-intensive mining and refining of materials like silicon, rare earth metals, and aluminum.
• Infrastructure: Construction of data centers involves steel, concrete, and cooling equipment, each with a significant carbon footprint.
• Networking Equipment: Routers, switches, and fiber-optic cables require high-precision manufacturing processes, contributing to embodied carbon.

Fact: Embodied carbon from manufacturing and construction can account for 20-40% of a data center’s total lifecycle emissions. (IEA)

‍CO₂ Emissions from Data Centers

• Carbon Footprint:Data centres and data transmission networks are responsible for 1% of energy-related GHG emissions (IEA)
• Water Usage: Some facilities use between 3 to 5 million gallons of water per day for cooling. (EPA)

Projected Growth: With AI, cloud computing, and streaming services expanding, electricity consumption from data centers is expected to double by 2030.

The AI Boom and the Hidden Cost of Image Generation

The rise of AI-generated content has added another layer of energy consumption to our digital footprint. One of the most trending tools right now is Ghibli AI, which generates high-quality animated images inspired by Studio Ghibli’s unique art style. However, as beautiful as these images are, they come at a steep environmental cost.

The Energy Demand of AI-Generated Images

When you ask an AI model like ChatGPT or Ghibli AI to generate an image, a large-scale computation process kicks off behind the scenes. Here's what happens:

1. Your Request is Processed: The AI model receives your prompt and interprets what kind of image it needs to create.
2. Massive GPU Clusters Work Overtime: The AI model runs deep-learning computations across thousands of powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) in a data center.
3. Energy-Intensive Generation: Each AI-generated image requires enormous amounts of electricity. A single high-resolution AI-generated image can consume as much energy as charging a smartphone dozens of times!
4. Data Transmission Adds to the Carbon Cost: The generated image is then transmitted back to your device, adding further emissions.

According to a study by the University of Massachusetts, training a large AI model (like the one behind Ghibli AI) can emit over 284,000 kg of CO2 equivalent to the lifetime emissions of five cars!

"GPUs are Melting": The Dark Reality of AI Scaling

As AI adoption grows, hardware limitations and energy constraints are becoming a major issue. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently warned that GPUs are overheating due to the extreme computational load required for AI processing. This problem is not just about hardware durability; it highlights the unsustainable energy demand that AI models are placing on data centers.

In fact, data centers running AI workloads require exponentially more energy than traditional cloud computing. Many rely on fossil fuel-based electricity grids, increasing their carbon footprint. The energy-intensive nature of AI has sparked concerns about whether scaling AI sustainably is even possible.

Beyond the Data Center: The Hidden Costs of Manufacturing & Shipping

While data centers often take center stage in discussions about the internet's carbon footprint, it's crucial to remember that the journey of our digital devices and infrastructure begins long before they're plugged in. The energy-intensive processes of manufacturing and global shipping, though less visible, contribute significantly to the overall environmental impact.

Manufacturing's Energy Cost: Producing devices (smartphones, servers, etc.) and network infrastructure (cables, switches) demands energy-intensive processes: raw material extraction, refining, and assembly, all generating CO2.

Global Shipping's Impact: Worldwide shipping of these manufactured goods, relying heavily on fossil fuels, adds significant CO2 emissions due to long-distance transportation.

These stages, though perhaps perceived as 'small drops' compared to the vast energy consumption of data centers, collectively form a substantial 'ocean' of CO2 emissions. Understanding this full lifecycle from raw material extraction to global logistics is essential for a comprehensive view of the internet's true environmental cost.

The Energy Cost of Common Online Actions: Quick Facts

Conclusion

The internet, a marvel of connectivity, casts a long shadow – its carbon footprint rivaling that of the aviation industry. Every click, email, and stream contributes to a complex web of emissions, from device manufacturing to data center operations. While data centers dominate the energy narrative, the lifecycle of our devices, including manufacturing and shipping, also plays a critical role.

Awareness is the first step towards a sustainable digital future. We must acknowledge the tangible impact of our online habits and demand transparency from digital providers. Supporting renewable energy initiatives, optimizing personal usage, and advocating for greener practices are crucial.

At Desapex, we're dedicated to driving sustainable practices within the digital infrastructure that powers our world. We recognize the critical role data centers play in the internet's carbon footprint, and we're committed to helping these facilities minimize their environmental impact.

Desapex specializes in providing expert consulting services for data center sustainability. We work with data center operators to develop and implement strategies that reduce energy consumption, optimize cooling systems, transition to renewable energy sources, and minimize their overall carbon footprint. Our goal is to empower data centers to operate more efficiently, responsibly, and sustainably.

We believe that by combining our expertise with a collaborative approach, we can contribute to a greener digital future. Join us in our mission to build a more sustainable and environmentally conscious internet.