Assessing the carbon impact of a data centre server for video streaming

Abstract: This report delves into the pressing concern of the environmental sustainability of technology in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, with a focus on video streaming's carbon footprint. A single streaming server in a data centre's energy consumption and carbon emissions during one hour of streaming are examined, considering factors like resolution and the number of streams.  Findings indicate that single streaming servers have minimal energy consumption due to efficient hardware and software and that the carbon emissions emitted by the server are influenced by the power grid carbon intensities during streaming. The report highlights that the server's role in emissions is relatively insignificant compared to end-user devices.  Additionally, the report provides insights into data centres, servers and streaming complexities, emphasising the need for nuanced assessments when considering technology's environmental impact.