Have you wondered about the impacts of streaming hour-long series and movies on Netflix? Well, research groups have carried out studies to answer the same question. Intense technologies are working behind just to cast an episode of ‘Game of Thrones’ on your television screen. This includes data centers, a house for different forms of data, networks that help to access these data, internet tools, electricity to power all these electronics, and so on.
Carbon Trust research on carbon footprints of Netflix
The researchers at the University of Bristol invented a tool called DIMPACT for carrying out carbon output estimations. Netflix relied on the same tool to find out carbon emissions related to binging Netflix. According to Wired, one-hour streaming on Netflix in 2020 utilized less than a hundred grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (100g Co2e).
Netflix did work on cutting off the carbon outputs as evidenced by the latest findings. Recently another research group called Carbon Trust released the findings on the carbon footprints associated with Netflix. The carbon dioxide emission has come down to 55 grams in case of an hour of streaming. It is equivalent to the carbon output from a kettle boiling for six minutes or popping four bags of popcorn in the microwave. The data has given a method to calculate the impacts of streaming platforms on the environment. Besides, the findings helped to clear misinformation about the actual Carbon impact of streaming which was deemed much more.
How streaming Netflix contributes to the carbon emissions
According to the study, the devices along with the technology used in the streaming process emit around fifty percent of the total output. For the remaining emissions, web routers and networks play a significant role. While data centers and hubs contribute in minimal quantity. The older technologies are found less environment friendly and cause the most damage.
Overall, half of the emissions result from corporate operations and the other half from the physical process of new content creation. However, the study excludes the calculation from the customer’s side.
You might be wondering whether changing to high definitions from standard quality have any effect on the outcome. Well, the researchers also analyzed these aspects. The change in definitions had a nominal impact.
Netflix going green
The figures provided by the study have drawn the attention of streaming giants like Netflix. Without a doubt, it is time these platforms focus on reducing the carbon footprint. In fact, Netflix has planned to build a 100 percent carbon-free platform by 2022.
In the technical age, where customers demand high-speed networks and streaming services, a challenge remains ahead for the tech companies. The companies are indeed opting for green powerful devices. At the same time, we as customers also have duties to help achieve the goal of sustainability. People might find it hard to stay away from Netflix swarmed with popular series and movies in the current scenario. But the amount of carbon dioxide that will be released into the environment is greatly concerning. We may not be able to quit the whole streaming, but we can go for other activities to break in between. Alternative activities include reading, solving puzzles, artistic jobs, exercise, and indoor sports.
Also Read: How China became the biggest producer of Carbon pollution?
