However, this will surely not be enough to make the operation of the market-leading AI company climate neutral by the end of the decade.
Microsoft recently presented the results of a research, according to which, over the past three years, the with a “green” Xbox thanks to related efforts, it reduced emissions from its activities by 1.2 million tons. This is quite impressive, since approximately 4.8 billion kilometers driven by a conventional car burden the environment to such an extent.
One leg of this reduction is only the distribution of the environmentally friendly Xbox, for which much less packaging material is used, moreover, if properly configured, the console also downloads updates at a time when it is easier to use energy from renewable sources. The same approach is supported by the energy-saving “shut down” mode built into the consoles, which can do its job with twenty times less energy compared to normal operation.
The kit also includes an energy monitoring system and a so-called energy consumption table, as well as a guide with frugal operating practices, which also helps developers create the most energy-efficient games. Although no specific example is mentioned, the new operation was taken into account during the development, among others, by the studios of 343 Industries and Activision in relation to Halo Infinite and Call of Duty.
Although it seems almost impossible, the leading technology company committed itself at the beginning of the decade to become climate-negative, waste-free and water-positive by 2030. These goals seemed difficult to achieve even before they were set, but since then they have only become further away due to the continuous expansion and the advance of artificial intelligence. AI products have enormous data requirements, which are slowly not being able to handle even the available peak capacities, so more and more data centers have to be created continuously, and the end of the road is nowhere in sight.
In order for the people of Redmond to be able to reverse the trend and fulfill their previous commitments in 5 and a half years, a lot of green concrete, green steel and less energy-demanding chips would be needed. Today, there are some advocates who argue that previous expectations must be rewritten, since AI has created a completely new situation.
Based on the company’s latest sustainability report, Microsoft’s energy needs increased by about 25 percent between 2022 and 2023. Although according to its own admission, the company only uses renewable energy, this is more of a communication ploy, since it is only purchased credits (REC) and power purchase agreements (PPA) can be implemented.
Although in the past the juggling with numbers was mainly done with the capacities from the REC, in the future the company would rather shift the focus to the PPA. Elsewhere, it is looking to increase the efficiency of its existing data centers and to procure them from cheap, renewable energy sources. Either way, Microsoft is the first game console manufacturer and provider to make a real effort to save energy.
Source: www.zoldpalya.hu
