PresentationsWriting Greener Software Even When You are Stuck On-Prem
Abstract
There is a real efficiency advantage in high compute density via managed cloud services. Such services, which can share resources between thousands or millions of users, can achieve extremely high hardware and energy utilisation. Because of this, an awful lot of the still rather limited publicly available material on writing software with sustainability in mind emphasises shifting to cloud services. But what happens if you can't?
In this session Charles will explain why he believes we all need to be focussed on green software. He will offer practical ways to assess where you currently are in terms of your systems, advice for how to improve, and the role code and language efficiency play. Finally, he’ll offer suggestions for how to persuade your leadership that this is all a good idea, and look at some of the tools and resources that are available to help you get to grips with this rapidly evolving and fascinating area of computing.
Slides
Resources
Data sources:
Sulphur dioxide emissions
Ozone layer
Hockey stick
Cost of low carbon technology
Google 24/7 by 2030
Apple iPhone 14 environmental report
Energy proportionality
Microsoft sustainability report
Google sustainability report
Putting a CO2 figure on a piece of computation
Assessment tools:
Maturity matrix
Measurement:
GSF measurement guide and formula
Kepler (Kubernetes Efficient Power Level Exporter)
Electricity Maps
Cloud Carbon Footprint
AWS Customer Carbon Footprint Tool
Azure Emissions Impact Dashboard
Google Carbon Footprint
Demand shifting and shaping:
What are demand shifting and shaping?
Google case study
Windows 11 case study
XBOX case study
Apple clean energy charging
Books:
The Developer's Guide to Cloud Infrastructure, Efficiency and Sustainability by Charles Humble
Building Green Software by Anne Currie, Sarah Hsu, Sara Bergman
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates
Not the End of the World by Hannah Richie
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