Cloud Computing Halves Carbon Emissions, or at Least Could

The advantages of cloud computing have been discussed repeatedly and, indeed, they still are, the latest reports on the matter stating that, based on a recent study, large IT companies can achieve massive carbon emission and energy cost reductions this decade.

Shared data networks, commonly known as cloud storage environments, are poised to see faster and wider adoption from here on out.

It is now believed that big reductions to carbon emissions are among the benefits that can be attained in the short to mid term.

Granted, this belief isn't that new, but now there are some actual estimates to go on.

According to a new study conducted by the Carbon Disclosure Project in London, large IT companies that reduce carbon emissions by 50%.

All it would take would be to migrate their data storage operations to the cloud.

"Carbon reduction is one driver, but not the primary driver," Citigroup's Paul Stemmler said.

"The primary driver is time to market. Developers used to take 45 days to get new servers, but in the internal cloud infrastructure that we operate in our own private network, it takes just a couple of minutes."

The UK is where the largest effect is expected, as UK companies that use cloud can achieve annual energy cost savings of £1.2 billion (€1.39 billion / $1.9 billion) and save as much carbon as it would take 4 million passenger vehicles to produce in that time frame.

France won't really be so fortunate, since it has a lot of nuclear power plants generating most electricity.

Nevertheless, cost savings and the speed with which virtual servers can be set up are sure to prompt mostly every large IT player to move further into the cloud.

Now, cloud suppliers just have to make sure their ports and firewalls aren't actually leaving subscribing organizations vulnerable.