Px3 CEO Dr Justin’s sustainable IT research and resulting IT carbon footprint estimation, calculation, comparison and strategy applications platform has been nominated for The Eathshot Prize 2024.
The nomination for the first judging round was undertaken by the University of Warwick, Life Sciences based upon the positive impact the research and applications are producing globally and will have with regards reducing the carbon footprint of information technology; current estimated to cause 3% of global GHG emissions.
Dr Justin has now conducted a body of research that spans 30 research papers and has over 10 years created new methods and practices to measure the carbon footprint of computers and has developed four interrelated online applications for public use.
The new scientific methods include Device Use Phase Analysis (DUPA TM) which is capable of accurately measuring electricity consumption of computers in all modes. This is particularly relevant as it was Dr. Sutton-Parker’s research that validated in 2018 the error created within computer product carbon footprint reports using published Energy Star typical energy consumption (TEC) kilowatt hour per year data.
The research validated that reliance on the existing energy consumption benchmark failed to include the active state when a computer is in use and drawing the greatest power. As such, use-phase scope 2 GHG emissions are commonly under calculated and under reported by significant margins.
As a result, sustainable IT expert Dr. Justin Sutton-Parker conceived and developed the Commercial Typical Energy Consumption (cTEC TM) equation that enables the calculation of scope 2 GHG emissions when a computer is used in the workplace. The approach is particularly useful for companies subject to mandatory GHG emissions reporting and sustainability policy planning to ensure compliance with GHG accounting regulations, green ICT procurement policy and international legislation.
Dr. Justin also conducted in-depth research examining inconsistencies within carbon footprint data used for both scope 2 use phase and scope 3 supply chain GHG emissions for computers produced by companies that manufacture 90% of the planet’s computing devices. The research has since delivered a new certification approach to harmonise life cycle assessment methodology inconsistencies that is being tested globally in 2024.
Having calculated the GHG emissions of several million computers, Dr. Sutton-Parker conceived, developed and launched four IT carbon footprint online applications. The reasoning for this is that initial research showed that organisations are slow to adopt sustainable IT due to a perception that the process is complex, costly and with little or no positive impact.
To overcome this the first application offers the opportunity to estimate the carbon footprint of computers by type (e.g. notebooks, desktops etc.) and location of use (e.g. UK, USA, globally etc.). Within milliseconds the results are produced from the application’s database to show the GHG emissions in kgCO2e. The idea is that this free to use application can start companies on their journey towards realising the impact of IT which generates over 3% of all global emissions.
The second application goes a step further enabling the user to input computer model specific data (e.g. Dell Latitude 5400) plus use policies such as retention periods and location of use. Again, within milliseconds the application calculates computer carbon footprint (total, total by type, total by device, scope 2 and scope 3), electricity consumption, plus utility & annualised procurement costs. The idea being that organisations can accurately calculate their current end user computing carbon footprint and costs to analyse areas for improvement and to complete GHG impact reporting and strategic planning.
The third application takes the current data and enables the user to model potential future outcomes by employing sustainability strategies such as extension of device lifespans, transition to low carbon footprint devices and circular computing via adoption of refurbished equipment. Calculated within milliseconds, the application details the quantity of GHG emissions that can be avoided by changing procurement and use policies plus the amount of operational and capital expenditure that can also be saved by extending procurement cycles and lowering energy consumption. This specific outcome enables stakeholders to be appealed to by role based interest such as Planet (e.g. CSR, ESG, IT), People (e.g. HR) and Profit (e.g. CEO, CFO) and overcomes the early findings to detail that in fact, sustainable IT reduces emissions and costs by over one third on average.
The fourth application enables IT and procurement teams to compare and select new and refurbished devices by carbon footprint, efficiency and supply chain impact. By harmonising the carbon footprint data of thousands of devices offered by all major brands, the application enables users to input where they will most often use the device and how long they will potential keep the computer. At the click of a button, product carbon footprint data is produced that is relevant to the user showing unique detail that is not included in manufacturer reports. This includes location specific scope 2 emissions which are necessary as static publications produced by brands calculate data based by countries and regions such as the USA. Whereas electricity carbon intensity is far lower in areas such as Europe and therefore the original publications are neither relevant or comparable for the majority of companies. The idea is that procurement and IT teams can plan to procure low carbon footprint devices in confidence that the data used is both comparable between brands and relevant to their own IT location and policies. This is particularly important as legislation exists requiring IT to be selected using sustainability as a criterion.
Dr. Justin’s body of research and applications have been adopted by global technology companies, governments, international IT eco-certification companies and end user organisations alike.
As an example, Google’s ChromeOS sustainability strategy is based upon Dr. Justin primary research that discovered the extreme energy efficiency of Chromebooks in 2019 and the capability of ChromeOS Flex to reduce device carbon footprints via lifespan extension. While, Microsoft’s W365 cloud PC sustainability strategy is based upon Dr. Sutton-Parker’s research. Further tech companies using the research for sustainability advances within the IT industry also include Acer, ASUS, Citrix, IGEL and Qualcomm among others.
As part of the approach, Dr. Justin has conducted research to examine the ICT carbon footprint practices used in government. Conducting three research papers, the results have been used within the 2023 UK Government Greening ICT Strategy.
World leading computer eco-certification organisation, TCO Ceritified use Dr. Justin computer carbon footprint methodology and data for their TCO report generator tool meaning that as many as 50% of new EUC devices will be subject to the research results.
Plus, many end user organisations from the commercial, public and third sectors including major brands and government function across the globe use the applications platform to calculate carbon footprint impact, to generate new low carbon strategies and select new devices by carbon footprint.
Via these three channels using the new methods and applications, it is estimated that Dr. Sutton-Parker’s research is now influencing as many as 1bn computer users world wide. The hope is that by ensuring this change to procurement and use behaviour is achieved with simplicity and shows maximum positive impact, then the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of responsible consumption and production can ultimately drive climate action.
Dr Justin notes, ‘I am humbled by this. Everyone who knows me recognises that I do this to simply enable positive change. We have over 4bn computer users on the planet and I hope they will all come to understand that adopting sustainable IT is simple, cost effective and most importantly will drive significant climate action if we all get on board. I hope that to even be included in the initial nomination for such a recognised and prestigious award shines a spotlight on sustainable IT in general. It really is an opportunity to drive global GHG emissions abatement and hopefully more people, companies and governments will think about the way we work today and how sustainable IT must become the norm.’
Follow sustainable IT consultant Dr Justin Sutton-Parker on LinkedIn here.
