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The Environmental Impact of Google Searches
paleshadows writes "The Times Online reports that researchers claim that each query submitted to Google has a quantifiable impact. Specifically, two queries performed through a desktop computer generate about the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a cup of tea. From the article: 'While millions of people tap into Google without considering the environment, a typical search generates about 7g of CO2 [whereas] boiling a kettle generates about 15g [...] Google is secretive about its energy consumption and carbon footprint. It also refuses to divulge the locations of its data centers. However, with more than 200m Internet searches estimated daily, the electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions caused by computers and the Internet is provoking concern. A recent report [argues that] the global IT industry generate[s] as much greenhouse gas as the world's airlines — about 2% of global CO2 emissions.'" Google makes an interesting focus for such claims, but similar extrapolations have been done before about, for instance, the energy costs of sending a short email.
That explains the infinite improbability factor that gives links to pron sites from nearly every innocent search.
According to my google search history I am responsible for about 112 kg of carbon. I wonder how long I have to hold my breath to off set that.
This one's tricky. You have to use imaginary numbers, like eleventeen... --Hobbes
Time to have a global boston tea party and dump all the tea into the ocean. With roughly 2-3 billion less tea drinkers in the world, think of how many more searches we can do without impacting the environment! And think of those who drink multiple glasses. It's like a critical hit against tea/energy expense. Booyah! problem solved.
Nope. Then we'd be eating the animals, and that is not okay.
An important change for education.
The Google servers should be made of wood, just as God intended.
A new study shows that using Google will destroy the planet. A typical Google search on a completely random topic such as "charlot chirch sex tape" produces enough carbon for 98 pencils or seventeen boiled kettles and brutally murders an average of two point four cute fluffy things.
"A Google search has a definite environmental impact," said Alex Wissner-Gross of Harvard University. "Instead, you should use Windows Live Search — to be renamed Windows Love Search — which produces butterflies and baby seals. That's instead of whatever you were looking for, but hey — it's for the planet."
Google is "secretive" about its energy consumption and carbon footprint. "Or at least, they told us to fuck off when we asked how many endangered species they'd killed off today. This proves their inherent malice. If you search using Google you may as well be strangling kittens. You should go to a trustworthy company of demonstrated moral fibre, like Microsoft."
A recent Gartner report said the global IT industry generates as much greenhouse gas as the airlines industry. "Primary in this is the large quantities of hot air produced by completely independent analysts to support the views of the highest bidder."
The Home Office welcomed the findings. "This proves that Internet users might as well be terrorists," said Jacqui Smith, "and so we'll treat them like they are. All Internet access in the UK will be run through Cleanfeed filters and your electronic ration book ticked off per web page used. Reading Wikipedia or the Guido Fawkes blog will, of course, be declared capital offences."
Microsoft has demonstrated its environmental credentials by recycling Vista, its huge and lumbering Hummer of an operating system, as Windows 7. "All new and yet ... old," said marketing marketer Steve Ballmer. "Save the planet with Windows 7! Requires 4 core processor 2 gigabytes memory 500 gigabyte hard disk and basement nuclear power plant. Power plant sold separately."
http://rocknerd.co.uk
If I do enough google searches, the amount of emissions required to boil my kettle is reduced as the water is warmer to start with thanks to global warming..
I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
I drink iced tea, you insensitive clod!
We eat the environmentalists first... that should last for a little while.
"Remember kids - Never eat outside your species."
Dick.
I think that you misspelled "You insensitive clod."
There is no way the Earth could possibly support 7 billion hunter gatherers.
Sure it could. We'd just be hunting and gathering each other. Everyone can pitch in and help to serve man.
http://downwithpants.org Overthrow the tyranny of your pants
The article thinks a google search takes 15 minutes.
They aren't incompetent estimators, they are incompetent searchers.
Behold ladies and gentlemen, a false dichotomy in its natural habitat. Be careful not to apply logic in its vicinity.
That's why we're trying to warm the place up...I say, Google away, so we won't have to worry about cold winters anymore.
An important change for education.
Unless you route your gas through the Ukraine
Russia only pulls that shit because everyone knows you don't start a land war with Russia during winter.
moox. for a new generation.
People who live far enough north that they need to heat their house with heating oil need to move south to where their yard isnt covered in snow three months out of the year.
If all the people who need heating need to move south, then all the people who need air conditioning would need to move north, too.
Now that would make for quite some overpopulated areas with much of the planet left empty. ;-P
Google: Give up all your earnings now to Al Gore, before it's too late.
try dihydrogen monoxide (see also http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html) vapor which makes up in excess of 90% of the greenhouse gases that are destroying the planet. Oddly, nobody seems to have gotten around to classifying it as a pollutant so we can use "cap and trade" credits to reduce its egregious effects on the environment. Call your Congresscritter. We must save the planet.