Designing the Future of Cloud Emissions Data
Lead Participant:
GREENPIXIE LTD
Abstract
**Designing the Future of Cloud Emissions Data**
**Problem:**
* The world needs to decarbonise rapidly.
* The technology sector is responsible for ~4% of global Greenhouse Gas Emissions emissions, similar to global aviation. This is projected to reach 10-30% by 2030\.
* Data stored and processed in the cloud is a major source of emissions.
* Some regions, including London, have already limited construction of cloud data-centres to reduce electrical-grid demands.
* Existing tools for calculating cloud carbon are either user-friendly but inaccurate, or accurate but require highly technical knowledge.
**Market Opportunity:**
* There is already a large market opportunity for accurate, user-friendly Cloud Emissions Data (CED).
* 19,000 companies voluntarily report emissions through CDP, and the top 5 sustainability disclosure bodies collect disclosures from over 30,000 companies annually.
**Design Deficiency:**
* Currently, CED is gatekept by stakeholders with significant technical knowledge.
* This makes it difficult for less technical users, such as Heads of Sustainability (HoS), to understand and use the data.
**Project Collaboration:**
* The collaboration between Greenpixie and the University of Sussex will bring together the expertise of two organisations with complementary skills and experience.
* Greenpixie has a deep understanding of the cloud computing industry and the technical capability to build an accessible CED solution.
* The University of Sussex has expertise in planet-centric and design-led research, and developing solutions to 'humanise' complex data.
* Combining these capabilities allows us to place planet-centric design at the heart of an emerging ESG data market.
**Project Outcomes:**
* A better understanding of the needs of HoS and other less technical users of CED.
* A planet-centric, design-led approach to CED that is user-friendly and actionable.
* A design of a new CED platform for businesses to track and reduce their cloud emissions.
**Project Impact:**
* The project will have a significant impact on the way that businesses manage their cloud emissions.
* The project will make CED more accessible to businesses, which will help them to reduce their emissions and meet their NetZero targets.
**Problem:**
* The world needs to decarbonise rapidly.
* The technology sector is responsible for ~4% of global Greenhouse Gas Emissions emissions, similar to global aviation. This is projected to reach 10-30% by 2030\.
* Data stored and processed in the cloud is a major source of emissions.
* Some regions, including London, have already limited construction of cloud data-centres to reduce electrical-grid demands.
* Existing tools for calculating cloud carbon are either user-friendly but inaccurate, or accurate but require highly technical knowledge.
**Market Opportunity:**
* There is already a large market opportunity for accurate, user-friendly Cloud Emissions Data (CED).
* 19,000 companies voluntarily report emissions through CDP, and the top 5 sustainability disclosure bodies collect disclosures from over 30,000 companies annually.
**Design Deficiency:**
* Currently, CED is gatekept by stakeholders with significant technical knowledge.
* This makes it difficult for less technical users, such as Heads of Sustainability (HoS), to understand and use the data.
**Project Collaboration:**
* The collaboration between Greenpixie and the University of Sussex will bring together the expertise of two organisations with complementary skills and experience.
* Greenpixie has a deep understanding of the cloud computing industry and the technical capability to build an accessible CED solution.
* The University of Sussex has expertise in planet-centric and design-led research, and developing solutions to 'humanise' complex data.
* Combining these capabilities allows us to place planet-centric design at the heart of an emerging ESG data market.
**Project Outcomes:**
* A better understanding of the needs of HoS and other less technical users of CED.
* A planet-centric, design-led approach to CED that is user-friendly and actionable.
* A design of a new CED platform for businesses to track and reduce their cloud emissions.
**Project Impact:**
* The project will have a significant impact on the way that businesses manage their cloud emissions.
* The project will make CED more accessible to businesses, which will help them to reduce their emissions and meet their NetZero targets.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| GREENPIXIE LTD | £49,028 | £ 49,028 |
Participant |
||
| UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX | £21,185 | £ 21,185 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Rory Brown (Project Manager) |