Streaming a video is now a widespread activity for many of us. But, what are the carbon emissions associated with this activity? The Carbon Trust reported that the impacts are actually relatively minimal, especially compared to other activities.
In the Carbon Impact of Video Streaming, the authors explore the impact of one hour of video streaming. They found that powering a settop or mobile device was responsible for most of the carbon emissions. But the study didn’t explore the emissions from manufacturing the device or creating the streamed content. Two of the most significant variables are the location where the user streams the video and the electronic device they use.
Carbon Emissions From Electricity
The carbon emissions associated with a unit of energy varies by location depending on the efficiency of the power plants and the type of fuel used to generate…