Ecological Benefit of Extending the Use Phase of Servers
A summary of the study by Prof. Dr. Matthias Finkbeiner, M.Sc. Andreas Link, Jessica Hoffmann (Technische Universität Berlin Department of Environmental Technology Chair of Sustainable Engineering) from 04.06.2021
Introduction
In an increasingly digitalized world, the efficiency and sustainability of IT infrastructures are of crucial importance. But where do the greatest environmental impacts of a server arise? During operation, or long before it is switched on for the first time? To answer this question and provide our CO2 calculator with a scientifically sound basis, we rely on the comprehensive analysis "Ecological Benefit of Extending the Use Phase of Servers", conducted by the Department of Sustainable Engineering at the Technische Universität Berlin. This page offers you a detailed insight into the key findings of this study and explains how they have been directly incorporated into our calculation model.
Key Finding 1: Manufacturing Dominates the CO2 Footprint
The most surprising and, at the same time, most important finding of the study is that the majority of a server's CO2 emissions – often over 85% – occur during the manufacturing phase. The energy-intensive extraction of raw materials, the complex production of semiconductors, and global transport routes add up to an enormous "ecological backpack" even before the server has consumed a single watt of electricity. This means: The greatest lever for reducing the CO2 footprint lies in avoiding new production.
The Basis for Calculation: A Reference Server
To achieve comparable results, the study is based on a detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by the company "thinkstep" for a Dell R740 Server. This model serves as a representative "average server" for the SMB sector. The central value for our calculator is derived from this analysis: Manufacturing footprint of a server: 4,283 kg of CO2 equivalents. This value forms the scientific and transparent basis for all calculations.
Conclusion: Every Year Counts
The research by TU Berlin impressively demonstrates: The most sustainable IT hardware is the hardware that already exists. By extending the lifespan of your servers, storage, and network devices, you can make a direct, measurable, and significant contribution to climate protection. You not only conserve valuable resources but also avoid the largest part of the CO2 footprint associated with new hardware.
