More sustainability through digitalization: How can it work?
Digitalization has long since entered the mainstream; more and more people are using digital elements to make everyday life easier. To date, the full potential has not been exploited, especially when it comes to issues such as sustainability. One of the downsides is that any digital use consumes energy resources.
The increasing number of computers means that energy requirements in industrialized nations are increasing significantly. Can sustainability even be considered on this basis? In fact, there are approaches on how resource protection and digitalization can be combined.
Digitalization in people's everyday lives - why energy requirements are increasing so sharply
When most people hear the word digitalization, they still primarily think of modern corporate management. In practice, many people's everyday lives have long since been largely digitized.
For online providers, for example, digital competition has increased significantly. If virtual offers such as LeoVegas are accessed in everyday life, we are talking about digital employment. The same applies to streaming services, messengers and much more. Communication, shopping and games – all of this is increasingly taking place on a digital level today and there is an increased need for energy.
In 2022 , around 12 percent of the total amount of energy was provided for digital devices. The further the technical progress, the greater the need. In the long term, solutions must be created to prevent the often feared electricity collapse. When it comes to sustainability, there is only one efficient approach - switching to renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics. This can be used to reliably generate electricity, which is then available for the use of digital elements in an environmentally friendly and low-CO₂ way.
Benefits of digitalization – it’s about more than just the downsides
The growing demand for energy is being observed with “stomach pain” by environmentalists and experts. This is counteracted by the positive influences on the environment that can be achieved through comprehensive digitalization. Below we have put together some examples of how digital integration can conserve resources and increase efficiency:
Smart Energy – the wise use of energy sources and resources
There are already cities that are focusing on becoming “smart cities” . With the help of intelligent sensors, it should be possible to use energy according to individual needs. An important approach is intelligent power grids, which can always automatically coordinate supply and demand. This prevents too much electricity from flowing through the network unused or being lost.
In the private sector, smart home systems can help not only to control energy consumption, but also to adapt it. Consumers automatically recognize energy guzzlers and can react if they waste too much energy. In the long term, a widespread introduction of such digital tools can lead to a reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Reduce emissions through digital innovations
A large proportion of greenhouse gases are caused by air travel and car travel. Digitalization helps reduce the carbon footprint. Digital options such as video conferencing and general telecommunications via the cloud reduce the proportion of business trips. This in turn reduces the use of means of transport and thus the production of emissions. This approach is also important in the modern production facilities of tomorrow. Through efficient and digitally controlled logistics, transport routes can be better planned and implemented, so that unnecessary journeys are avoided.
Raising public awareness through digital elements
Without an awareness of the current issues of our time, there is no reason for many people to change and adapt their lifestyle . Digitalization offers the opportunity to reach people online and make them aware of central issues. The focus here is particularly on the diversely used social networks because they enable low-threshold access to important information.
In the past there has often been talk about “social credit systems” that could be used in a kind of metaverse. This is about rewarding people for environmentally conscious behavior. For example, anyone who separates their garbage receives a digital reward in the form of coins, etc. Whether such programs will be implemented is still controversial. However, it would be conceivable to specifically introduce people to topics such as sustainability.
Conservation of resources through digitalization – the paperless office
Numerous small and large companies now manage their operations digitally, but there are still exceptions. The digitization of documents and the desired transition to a paperless office is a valuable step towards conserving resources. Making paper requires not just wood, but energy and water.
There are also transport costs when paper is delivered and made available in stores. A complete switch to digital business mail will help the company significantly reduce its carbon footprint. Although sending digital mail and storing documents requires more energy, the cost-benefit balance is positive.
The switch to paperless processes is also evident in the medical sector. Since the beginning of 2023, sick notes and prescriptions have been made available as an e-version. This is intended to reduce the immense use of paper and the associated waste of resources in this industry.
But such experiments also show that Germany still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to digitalization. Since the introduction of the digital recipe, problems have repeatedly arisen, which has fueled uncertainty and dissatisfaction among consumers.
A large and important field – the sustainable mobility of the future
One of the key points when we think about a digital and sustainable society is mobility. Owning a car is still indispensable for some people, but combustion engines are responsible for enormous CO₂ emissions.
Sustainable approaches are based on digital possibilities. Areas such as car sharing, widely available e-scooters, but also the virtual formation of carpooling should be mentioned here. The potential behind it is still rarely used today because there is little funding.
In the long term, convenient public mobility will be key to making people willing to leave their cars behind. Anyone who has to book a rental car via complicated telephone hotlines will lose interest in this more sustainable method. On the other hand, if vehicles can be unlocked close to home and easily returned via the app with just a few clicks, the willingness to try it out increases.
Sustainability and digitalization can come together
The increased energy requirements due to digitalization cannot be “discussed away”. The more servers, computers and end devices are in use, the more electricity is required to operate them. On the other hand, if we look at the potential of digitalization for sustainability, the cost-benefit balance appears in a different light. However, an important focus in the next few years must be on the further development and expansion of renewable energies. This way you can achieve an even greater effect.
