How many emails?!
A Year of Living Sustainably - Week One
Emails are often considered an eco-friendly alternative to traditional letters and paper communication but are actually guilty of leaving a significant carbon footprint.
How many emails do you send and receive in a day? 25, 50, 300? well, globally the number of emails sent and received per day in 2023 is 347.3 billion
Here we aim to shed light on the hidden environmental consequences of emails and hope you’ll take some small actions this week towards more sustainable digital communication practices.
The Carbon Footprint of Emails
1. Energy Consumption:
Behind every email we send lies a complex infrastructure of servers and data centres that require massive amounts of energy to operate.
From powering servers to cooling equipment, this energy consumption contributes to carbon emissions.
According to research, a single email's carbon footprint is estimated to be around 4 grams of CO2/
2. Storage and Data Centres:
The vast amount of data generated by emails necessitates extensive storage infrastructure, often housed in enormous data centres.
These facilities require substantial energy to operate and maintain, emitting considerable carbon emissions.
And it’s not just running these centres which is a problem, think of the production, maintenance and disposal of servers and data storage devices.
3. Email Attachments:
Sending and receiving attachments, particularly large files, significantly increase the environmental impact of emails.
Every attachment consumes additional energy and produces more carbon emissions during storage, transfer, and backup processes. For instance, sending a 1MB attachment can generate 20 grams of CO2 emissions.
Sustainable Digital Communication Practices
1. Think Before You Send:
Being mindful of our email habits can make a significant difference.
Before hitting "send," consider the necessity and relevance of the email.
Does it really need to be sent? Does everyone need to be CC’d/BCC’d? Could you opt for other communication channels such as instant messaging or video conferencing?
2. Smart Formatting and Optimisation:
Reducing the size of attached files can significantly decrease the carbon emissions associated with emails. (see 3. above) Yes, you know the one, that video of the cute cat, the hilarious film of Grandad at the family party! Compressing images, using compressed file formats, or providing download links when possible can help minimise energy consumption and storage requirements.
3. Unsubscribe and Unclutter:
Routinely decluttering your inbox and unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters and promotional emails reduces the energy and resources required for data storage and transmission. Additionally, setting up email filters prevents spam and reduces unnecessary digital clutter.
4. Unsubscribe and Reduce ‘Stuff’:
How many times have you opened and email, seen a ‘special offer’ and before you know it, it’s in the cart? The reason there are so many special offer emails sent out to us is because they work! A survey carried out among UK marketers found that the rough return for every pound spent on email marketing stood at £35.41
But what works for the retailer isn’t necessarily what works for the planet.
We all have too much stuff - so avoid temptation and unsubscribe!
5. Choose Green Email Providers:
Seek out email service providers committed to sustainability and energy efficiency - companies that prioritise renewable energy sources for their data centres and implement energy.
So now that you’ve read that what changes can you make?
Do you have experience of using a green email provider? Are there any you would recommend? Please let us know how you get on and if you have any recommendations for other small changes we’d love to hear from you at sustwells@gmail.com
Thanks to Rupert who provided this recommenation:
We've used the Co-op for years and found it to be a good provider with excellent customer support. There's even a landline number if you want to phone when a nice, North country lad will patiently talk you through any problems.