In today’s digital age, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are at the heart of nearly every service we use, from cloud computing to mobile apps, and even the infrastructure supporting IoT devices. While these technologies have brought immense benefits, they also come with a significant environmental cost – especially in terms of energy consumption.
As demand for digital services grows, the energy required to support these services continues to rise, putting additional strain on our planet’s resources. This is reflected in the steady increase in mobile data consumption across Europe, growing from about 5 GB/month per user in 2018 to 15 GB/month in 2022, reflecting a 25% growth (Arthur D. Little, 2023). Besides, the analysts expect this indicator to grow to about 75 GB/month in the EU average by 2030, representing another factor 5.
With such rapid increases in usage, optimising energy consumption in ICT services is no longer just a good practice; it’s an urgent necessity for a sustainable future. That’s where the EXIGENCE Project steps in, aiming to transform how we measure, optimise, and reduce the environmental footprint of ICT services at the service level.
The Core Focus: Measuring at the Service Level
One of the biggest challenges in optimising energy consumption within ICT services is the lack of comprehensive, service-level measurements. Today, most organisations and providers measure energy usage within their own domains (data centers, networks, etc.), but these efforts often focus on isolated optimisations that don’t necessarily benefit the broader ecosystem.
The EXIGENCE Project seeks to address this gap by measuring energy consumption at the service level – the level at which users interact with and experience the service. This shift is crucial because it allows for a more holistic view of energy use, enabling better optimisation strategies that benefit the entire service ecosystem. By measuring at the service level, we can ensure that energy consumption is tracked and managed in a way that aligns with the needs of both providers and users, creating a more sustainable, efficient digital environment.
Note that the innovative approach proposed in EXIGENCE Project doesn’t render domain-level optimisations obsolete, but rather generalises these within a more complete and general vision. Not only are the existing optimisations still required, but the proposed exposure of service-level eco-data further and directly incentivises service providers to not only measure, but also to further reduce the service-level energy consumption indicators. In addition, the proposed service-level focus opens up new avenues for innovation, such as direct service-targeted green optimisations, which were previously difficult to implement.
In summary, exposing eco-data at the service level not only provides users with more information and involves them into the ICT energy consumption reduction endeavor, but also creates direct incentives for providers to limit energy consumption while rewarding them with a greater flexibility in reaching their targets. This transparency drives competition, creates new optimisation opportunities, and enables more precise allocation of eco-costs of the ICT services to the responsible parties, both in the B2B and B2C contexts.
Involving Service Users in Energy Optimisation
Historically, energy consumption in ICT has largely been the responsibility of providers, with little input or awareness from the end-users. But in the EXIGENCE Project, we believe that users must play a pivotal role in driving change.
By raising user awareness of the energy implications of their actions – such as the frequency of their requests, the timing of their usage, or even their choice of service provider – we aim to empower users to make smarter, more sustainable decisions. This could mean using services less frequently, selecting off-peak times for usage, or even choosing alternative providers that offer more energy-efficient services. By engaging users directly, we ensure that energy consumption reduction becomes a shared responsibility, creating a collective impact that extends beyond just optimising provider-side operations.
Creating Incentives for Users and Providers
One of the unique challenges in optimising ICT services for sustainability is that the interests of providers and users don’t always align. Providers might focus on improving energy efficiency within their domains, but this doesn’t always lead to an optimal outcome for the community. Conversely, optimising for the community as a whole might not always benefit individual domains.
The EXIGENCE Project addresses this by creating incentives for both users and providers to participate in energy consumption reduction. For example, users could be incentivised through rewards or access to premium services for making energy-efficient choices, while providers could receive recognition or regulatory benefits for contributing to the overall reduction in energy consumption. By fostering collaboration between users and providers, we ensure that energy optimisation isn’t just a one-sided effort but a shared goal with mutual benefits.
Preparing for the Future: Scaling Up in a Growing Digital Landscape
The rapid growth of ICT services is expected to continue, with demand projected to increase by 6-10 times over the next 5-6 years. This surge in demand will only exacerbate the environmental challenges posed by energy consumption in the sector. Domain-level optimisations alone will not be sufficient to meet these future demands sustainably.
The EXIGENCE Project recognises this and is focused on creating a service-level optimisation strategy that can scale with future growth. Rather than relying solely on improving energy efficiency within individual domains, the project seeks to distribute the environmental impact across the entire service ecosystem. This includes shifting some of the carbon footprint from the providing domains to the service users, ensuring that both sides contribute to the overall goal of reducing energy consumption. By developing a scalable, community-focused approach, the project will help ensure that ICT services can grow sustainably without further damaging the environment.
Conclusion
As ICT services continue to evolve and expand, optimising their energy consumption becomes not just an environmental responsibility but a necessity for long-term sustainability. The EXIGENCE Project is tackling this challenge head-on by focusing on measuring energy at the service level, engaging users in the optimisation process, and creating incentives for both users and providers to reduce their environmental footprint. With the projected rise in digital service demand, this approach is critical to ensuring that our digital future doesn’t come at the cost of our planet. By embracing a collaborative, scalable, and service-level-focused strategy, the EXIGENCE Project is paving the way for a more energy-efficient and sustainable ICT ecosystem – one that benefits everyone.
