Carbon footprint

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in CO2e) directly or indirectly produced by an individual, organization, product, or activity. It is a comprehensive measure of an entity’s impact on climate change.


Direct emissions

Direct emissions from data centers, also known as scope 1 emissions, arise from activities that occur within the boundaries of the data center itself that are under its direct control. Direct emissions include the following:


Indirect emissions

Indirect emissions, also categorized as scope 2 and scope 3 emissions, are associated with activities outside the direct control of the data center but are linked to its operations. Indirect emissions include the following:


Comparing direct and indirect emissions

It’s important to note that while direct emissions are relatively more straightforward to measure and control, indirect emissions—particularly from electricity consumption—can make up a significant portion of a data center’s carbon footprint. Accordingly, data centers often focus on improving energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and considering the broader lifecycle impact of their operations to effectively manage both direct and indirect emissions.

Calculating carbon footprint

The calculation of a data center’s carbon footprint involves quantifying the emissions associated with its energy consumption, often using emission factors provided by energy sources. The formula to calculate the data center carbon footprint is:

Carbon footprint = Energy consumption × Emission factor