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The Cloud Is Killing The Planet

renegadefm
Posts: 1,303 Forumite


Just heard the devistating affect our need to use the Cloud and store data online such as files, photos, music, etc online is impacting on our environment, because massive computer systems requiring massive amounts of energy run by fossil fuels is powering our power hungry lives. And now the new threat is apparently 5G for phones.
I'm thinking OMG what are we doing to our world? Our children's world?
What is wrong with going back to printing photos like we used to, storing files on cds like we should do. And utilising better use of our own pc hard drives?
Our modern way of life seems obsessed with destroying the planet?
I'm thinking OMG what are we doing to our world? Our children's world?
What is wrong with going back to printing photos like we used to, storing files on cds like we should do. And utilising better use of our own pc hard drives?
Our modern way of life seems obsessed with destroying the planet?
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Comments
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Not sure what scaremongering story you've been reading? Try this for a bit of balance:-
https://www.agileit.com/news/environmental-benefits-cloud-computing/
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Johno100 said:Not sure what scaremongering story you've been reading?I suspect they've been watching this
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renegadefm said:
What is wrong with going back to printing photos like we used to, storing files on cds like we should do. And utilising better use of our own pc hard drives?
I suspect that manufacturing and transporting plastic CDs and plastic ink cartridges that will eventually end up in landfill is much worse for the environment, as well as using up trees to make the paper for printed photos.
Plus I suspect that CD burners and printers would use up more energy than simply saving files in cloud storage.
And if you compare:- 1000 people having low spec pcs and sharing a cloud server for data storage and data processing
- 1000 people having high spec pcs for local data storage and data processing, which need more resources to manufacture and run (with no cloud server)
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renegadefm said:Just heard the devistating affect our need to use the Cloud and store data online such as files, photos, music, etc online is impacting on our environment, because massive computer systems requiring massive amounts of energy run by fossil fuels is powering our power hungry lives. And now the new threat is apparently 5G for phones.
I'm thinking OMG what are we doing to our world? Our children's world?
What is wrong with going back to printing photos like we used to, storing files on cds like we should do. And utilising better use of our own pc hard drives?
Our modern way of life seems obsessed with destroying the planet?2 -
The best recent perspective (and debunking of some of the scaremongering) was in this radio podcast 'Netflix vs The Environment':
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nrss1/episodes/downloads
Don't worry it's audio so won't consume nearly as much energy as video!Yes using the internet for media does consume a lot of energy overall. But it's an area replete with technological advances that are going to slash the carbon cost over time.
If Bitcoin mining and usage were banned like a class A drug, the power consumption of Ireland would be instantly saved.0 -
So is the BBC going to cut down on its internet based content? Whaddauthink?0
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No it's going to switch off most of its highly wasteful network of TV and radio transmitters.0
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This only makes me glad that I didn't use "cloud" services, mostly because I don't like that companies look at the data. Not that I have anything to hide, but these days people seem to waive their privacy far too easily.It just seems as though that cloud because another trend which the sheep followed. Much like sheep to the slaughter.
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poppellerant said:This only makes me glad that I didn't use "cloud" services, mostly because I don't like that companies look at the data. Not that I have anything to hide, but these days people seem to waive their privacy far too easily.It just seems as though that cloud because another trend which the sheep followed. Much like sheep to the slaughter.
Drinking Rum before 10am makes you
A PIRATE
Not an Alcoholic...!1 -
renegadefm said:Just heard the devistating affect our need to use the Cloud and store data online such as files, photos, music, etc online is impacting on our environment, because massive computer systems requiring massive amounts of energy run by fossil fuels is powering our power hungry lives. And now the new threat is apparently 5G for phones.
I'm thinking OMG what are we doing to our world? Our children's world?
What is wrong with going back to printing photos like we used to, storing files on cds like we should do. And utilising better use of our own pc hard drives?
Our modern way of life seems obsessed with destroying the planet?
Here's a hint, the manufacturing of paper, ink, ink cartridges, printers (etc) uses much more energy and resources per photo than storing them on a cloud server.Proud member of the wokerati, though I don't eat tofu.Home is where my books are.Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.Mortgage free July 20231
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