The IT industry already accounts for around 4 per cent of global carbon emissions, and market forecasts indicate that this figure could approach 16 per cent by 2040. Faced with increasing ESG reporting requirements and pressure from stakeholders, companies are looking for measurable ways to reduce their carbon footprint. In response to these challenges, Evernex, a global IT service provider, has released a free emissions reduction calculator to calculate the savings from using equipment for longer.
Industry data shows that the biggest problem is not energy consumption per se, but the production of electronics. Up to 80 per cent of the total emissions associated with IT equipment arise even before it is put into operation – at the raw material extraction and assembly stages. As physical hardware accounts for up to 45 per cent of the carbon footprint of a standard data centre, managing its lifecycle is becoming an important part of corporate strategies. Evernex data shows that extending the life of a single server by five years can prevent nearly 10 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Refurbished equipment, on the other hand, generates up to 70 per cent less pollution over its entire operating cycle than brand new equipment.
The new tool is designed to help decision-makers move from general statements to analytics. Running in a browser, the calculator requires the number of servers, network devices and data storage systems, as well as their planned life extension. The system compares this information with the average emissions resulting from the production of new equivalents. The results are presented in CO₂ equivalents and illustrative conversion factors, such as the number of smartphones not produced or car trips avoided.
Analytically, the calculator is based on external life cycle assessments (LCA), manufacturers’ environmental reports and scientific databases. In addition, Evernex has partnered with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), which has enabled the development of a certified methodology for estimating savings.
From a business perspective, access to such data fills a key gap in the market. Concrete figures make it easier for IT directors and finance staff to rationally plan budgets for infrastructure upgrades. The tool also provides hard, auditable data necessary for non-financial reporting. In an era of tightening climate regulations, responsible management of IT equipment ceases to be merely an image exercise and becomes a key mechanism for cost optimisation and risk management.
Evernex’s CO₂ reduction calculator is available free of charge on the website:
