Digital sobriety
From Wiki for Sustainable IT
Digital sobriety is an approach that questions needs before optimising means. It aims to reduce the environmental footprint of digital technology by limiting unnecessary uses rather than by making existing ones more efficient.
Principle
Efficiency reduces the cost of a use. Sobriety questions whether the use is needed at all.
The distinction matters because efficiency gains are frequently absorbed by increased consumption, a phenomenon known as the rebound effect. A more efficient service is used more often, by more people, for longer.
In practice
- question the need before adding a feature or a device ;
- extend the useful life of equipment rather than replace it ;
- delete data that no longer serves a purpose ;
- size infrastructure on observed load rather than theoretical peaks ;
- choose the smallest model or system that meets the need.
