Green IT and digital sobriety: how to reduce your IS carbon footprint

Digital technology accounts for 3-4% of global CO₂ emissions. Here's how your company can take concrete action on its environmental impact. Digital: an underestimated impact: The global digital sector represents 3-4% of greenhouse gas emissions, as much as civil aviation. Contrary to popular belief, 70-80% of this impact comes from equipment manufacturing, not usage. Digital sobriety starts with extending hardware lifespan. 5 action levers for SMEs: 1) Extend equipment lifespan (5-7 years instead of 3). 2) Optimise code and infrastructure. 3) Rationalise data. 4) Choose committed hosts (PUE < 1.3, renewable energy). 5) Raise employee awareness. Eco-design in software: An eco-designed website consumes 2-10 times less energy. Principles: limit page weight (< 1 MB ideally), reduce server requests, optimise images (WebP, lazy loading), avoid unnecessary trackers. The French regulatory framework: The REEN law (2021) requires companies with 250+ employees to assess their IS environmental impact. These obligations will progressively extend to SMEs. Our commitment at Powehi: Digital sobriety is the 5th pillar of our charter. We eco-design every solution: optimised queries, sober hosting, lightweight code, and systematic impact measurement.