{"id":1287,"date":"2023-11-02T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staffblogs.le.ac.uk\/library\/?p=1287"},"modified":"2025-02-26T13:38:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T13:38:27","slug":"world-digital-preservation-day-2023-making-digital-preservation-greener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staffblogs.le.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/11\/02\/world-digital-preservation-day-2023-making-digital-preservation-greener\/","title":{"rendered":"World Digital Preservation Day 2023: making digital preservation greener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Logo for World Digital Preservation Day, 2 November 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The theme for WPDP2023 (2 November) is Digital Preservation: A Concerted Effort<\/strong>. This post is a write-up of an online talk to celebrate the day. It expands on the Library and Records Management’s wish to embed sustainable practices in their roles, explore efforts being made by the sector and examines how we can preserve files in the very long term to acceptable standards, while doing as little damage to the planet as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might not be as obvious as oceans filling with plastic, deforestation or chimneys and exhausts pumping out smoke, but using computers for work or leisure has an effect on the world and is a source of carbon emissions, from the creation of the hardware to how we communicate, transmit and store data. It’s estimated that 200 zettabytes will be stored in the cloud by 2025 (heard at a training session from Leadership Through Data \/ AVEPoint), and that cloud storage now has a greater carbon footprint than the airline industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The high impact of storing data for long periods, usually in data centres, is because they require large amounts of power and cooling. They can also cause noise pollution and increase ‘immortal waste’; Greenpeace estimate that less than 16% of e-waste is recycled. (See The Staggering Ecological Impacts of Computation and the Cloud<\/a> by Steven Gonzalez Monserrate <\/strong>for more on this area). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hardware \/ software<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know the average lifespan of a laptop is 3-5 years? This means over a career spanning 50 years, you may use between 10-17 laptops! Choosing to look for an Energy star<\/a> rating or using EPEAT <\/a>(Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) resources when you are buying a new laptop or desktop can mean that you impact is minimised. Rather than buying new, consider measures which will keep your existing device going for longer, or buy a refurbished model. Look for suppliers who have a good e-waste disposal policy as this will mean they are likely to be conscious of their impact. Keep your device clean, and vents clear so that it does not overheat, and use protective bags and proper storage so that damage is less likely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image of laptop power button (from Pexels-energepiccom-7523354)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Using technology efficiently<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s an obvious thing to say, but turn off your device when you are not using it – the less power you consume, the lower your carbon footprint and electricity bill will be. Some other tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n