From: The Hidden Carbon Footprint of the Internet
perspectivescientific

From a technical view, bloated code is simply bad engineering. When developers write messy, unoptimized code, they force processors to run extra cycles. This translates directly into higher heat and more power draw at the data centre. By treating code efficiency as an environmental metric, computer scientists can measure the physical carbon cost of every line of JavaScript they write, turning software design into a green science.

controversy

Supporting arguments

  • Messy code increases CPU cycles
  • More CPU cycles equal more heat and power
  • Green metrics can guide software design
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evidence
Data centres that store and power websites consume about one percent of all the electricity used ...
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Programs that run directly on computer hardware use ten to fifty times less processor power than ...
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The Hidden Carbon Footprint of the Internet
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