It seems puzzling, but amidst a severe drought, the British government has released tips on saving water. Among typical advice like “take shorter showers,” one suggestion has sparked uproar online: “delete your old photos and emails.”
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How Your Photos Impact the Water Table
This seemingly bizarre recommendation actually has a technical basis. The government points out that “data centers require vast amounts of water to cool their systems.” This means that your cloud-stored photos are not without physical presence; they reside on servers that generate heat and often require water to be cooled down.
Research indicates that a small data center can use over 25 million liters of water annually. The logic is straightforward: less data to store and process means less water used in the long run.
Advice Met with Mockery (and a Dash of Hypocrisy)
The suggestion was quickly mocked on social media, with many calling it an “absolute joke.”
Critics mainly emphasize that the impact of deleting a few personal photos is minuscule compared to water use in industries or agriculture. It appears to shift the responsibility onto individuals. This is particularly hypocritical since the same British government is aggressively promoting the expansion of AI data centers, which are even more resource-intensive.
The Real Environmental Cost of Digital Life
While the advice may be clumsy, it does highlight the genuine environmental impact of our digital lives. Data storage, video streaming, and AI training all have significant energy and water footprints, even though they are invisible to the user.
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Final Thoughts?
It’s a perfect example of poor political communication. By offering a simple yet ineffective tip, the government seems to act without making tough decisions on actual significant water consumers.
It’s also worth considering Apple’s stance on the impact of its services, like iCloud photo storage. The company vigorously claims its data centers are powered by 100% renewable energy and that they’re working to minimize water use. This strong marketing stance alleviates user guilt and sets the company apart. How about you, do you keep all your photos in the cloud, or do you sort them regularly? Personally, I sort through them daily.
To discuss the environmental impact of tech further, consider creating an account on Mac4Ever (it’s quick and free)!