From old screenshots to junk emails and texts received a year ago, digital clutter is always present in our lives and is easy to overlook.

However, every sent message, recorded video, and voice note has an impact on energy consumption. The use of technology depends on the transfer of data from our devices to servers stored in data centers. These servers need electricity and environmental resources, including water.

Our forgotten digital clutter is stored in the cloud. Although it sounds abstract, the cloud is actually made up of servers in data centers that use air – conditioning and water to stay cool. To ensure that we can access whatever we want at any time, the systems are highly redundant to prevent outages. Storing those blurry photos and junk emails – not just for you but for everyone – indefinitely requires resources.

Why you should do it

Based on estimates from the past few years, the amount of energy needed to store 1 terabyte of data (roughly equivalent to a certain amount of storage) on the cloud ranges from [original range] annually. For reference, using just 60 kWh is equivalent to charging your smartphone every night for over six years.

Meanwhile, large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day, which is the same as the daily water usage of a town with 10,000 to 50,000 people.

Due to these environmental impacts, last summer, in the middle of a drought, the U.K. government [original action] to take some time to delete unwanted photos, outdated screenshots, and unopened junk emails to relieve the burden on data centers and, in turn, the environment.

How to do it

Finding small, manageable moments, such as using your Monday commute to delete old photos or adding an inbox clean – up after your regular chores, can help you get into the rhythm of action. You can also try giving yourself five minutes each day to see what you can achieve.

Making this practice a regular habit, like scheduling a monthly digital decluttering session, can make the task seem less intimidating over time.

The bigger picture

It’s difficult to avoid digital tasks. Thinking about your online carbon footprint can be overwhelming, and it’s hard to clearly understand what that footprint looks like. The estimates of how much carbon dioxide is emitted can vary depending on the task. For example, according to Mike Berners – Lee, the author of How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything, sending and receiving an email can use anywhere from [original carbon range] of carbon, depending on the length and the number of recipients. The book was published in 2020, and it’s worth noting that as technology has advanced since then, the efficiency of our digital tasks has also improved. At the end of the day, that amount is “infinitesimal,” says Berners – Lee.

When it comes to our use of technology, the biggest carbon impact actually comes from the manufacturing of these products.

“A larger part is the embedded carbon in the manufacturing of the [product] we use, which is actually a more significant factor than the energy our computer or smartphone will consume throughout its lifetime,” he points out.

That’s why it’s important to be purposeful when buying new things and keep them in your life for as long as possible.

“Buy fewer physical products and make them last,” Berners – Lee recommends. And when you’re looking to buy a product, consider where you can get it from. Local buy – nothing groups, second – hand stores, or family and friends might have brand – new or gently used items that meet your needs. “Buy second – hand if you can,” says Berners – Lee, “and try to declutter and get rid of junk in your life.”

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