Each episode we discuss the latest news regarding how to reduce the emissions of software and how the industry is dealing with its own environmental impact. Br...
In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the Carbon Aware SDK, a groundbreaking tool enabling developers to reduce software emissions by running workloads where and when energy is greenest. Featuring insights from Vaughan Knight, chair and project lead of the SDK, the episode dives into its origins, real-world applications, challenges, and milestones, including early contributions from UBS and Microsoft and its recent 1.7 release with NPM and Java libraries. Learn about how the SDK supports Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) metrics, practical examples of carbon-aware workload scheduling, and the roadmap for expanding developer resources and geolocation-based solutions.
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12:30
Deep Green Technologies
In this episode of Environment Variables, host Chris Adams sits down with Mark Bjornsgaard of Deep Green to explore a transformative approach to data center design and sustainability. Mark shares insights into how Deep Green reimagines traditional data centers by co-locating them in urban areas to provide heat reuse for facilities like swimming pools, district heating systems, and industrial processes. They discuss the challenges of planning and policy, the rise of high-density computing driven by AI, and the potential for data centers to become integral components of community infrastructure. Tune in to learn about the intersection of digital innovation and environmental responsibility, and how new business models can turn waste into opportunity.
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45:13
Finding Signal Amongst the Noise in Carbon Aware Software
In this episode of Environment Variables, host Chris Adams is joined by Tammy Sukprasert, a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, to dive deep into her research on carbon-aware computing. Tammy explores the concept of shifting computing workloads across time and space to reduce carbon emissions, focusing on the benefits and limitations of this approach. She explains how moving workloads to cleaner regions or delaying them until cleaner energy sources are available can help cut emissions, but also discusses the challenges that come with real-world constraints like server capacity and latency. Together they discuss the findings from her recent papers, including the differences between average and marginal carbon intensity signals and how they impact decision-making. The conversation highlights the complexity of achieving carbon savings and the need for better metrics and strategies in the world of software development.
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35:10
The Cloud and the Climate: Navigating AI-Powered Futures
Environment Variables host Chris Adams is joined by Jo Lindsay Walton, a senior research fellow at the Sussex Digital Humanities Lab and co-author of the report The Cloud and the Climate: Navigating AI-Powered Futures. They delve into the intersection of climate and AI, exploring the environmental impact of AI technologies and the challenges of decarbonizing the ICT sector. Jo discusses key takeaways from the report, including the importance of understanding AI's direct and indirect impacts, the nuanced roles of big tech companies, and strategies for critically assessing claims of AI-driven sustainability. This insightful conversation highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches and robust collaboration to navigate the complex relationship between technology and climate action.
Learn more about our people:
Chris Adams: LinkedIn | GitHub | Website
Jo Lindsay Walton: LinkedIn | Website
Find out more about the GSF:
The Green Software Foundation Website
Sign up to the Green Software Foundation Newsletter
News:
The Cloud and the Climate: Navigating AI-Powered Futures [01:15]
Microsoft files patents for carbon capture and grid-aware workload scheduler - DCD [07:54]
Potential of artificial intelligence in reducing energy and carbon emissions of commercial buildings at scale | Nature Communications [16:30]
Resources:
Digital Humanities Climate Coalition | Data Culture & Society [02:08]
Breakdown of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions by sector - Our World in Data [10:29]
The climate impact of ICT: A review of estimates, trends and regulations [10:51]
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35:39
Green Networking with Carlos Pignataro
In this episode of Environment Variables, Anne Currie welcomes Carlos Pignataro, a leading expert in sustainable network architecture, to explore how networks can balance energy efficiency with performance and resilience. Carlos shares insights from his career at Cisco and beyond, including strategies for reducing emissions through dynamic software principles, energy-aware networking, and leveraging technologies like IoT and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). They discuss practical applications, the alignment of green practices with business interests, and the role of multidisciplinary collaboration in driving innovation. Tune in for actionable advice and forward-thinking perspectives on making networks greener while enhancing their capabilities.
Each episode we discuss the latest news regarding how to reduce the emissions of software and how the industry is dealing with its own environmental impact. Brought to you by The Green Software Foundation.