The devices we have today generate more data than ever before. It looks like the amount of this data will continue to grow as it becomes more valuable and the technology to analyze the largest databases becomes more accessible to consumers. This news pleases the enthusiasts of the most modern technologies, but one should not forget the negative externality of technological progress - the excess of virtual garbage. A special day is also dedicated to the fight against virtual garbage - March 19, which has been declared the " Virtual Cleanup " day.
Virtual garbage ( Digital Waste) is a newly emerging term that describes the environmental consequences of improper data management. Virtual garbage is the result of storing huge amounts of information in digital format and has various negative effects. Perhaps the most important example of this is the carbon dioxide emissions of data centers and server rooms. It is estimated that the Internet and its related systems release even 900 million per year into the environment. tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Other data show that digital technology emits about 4 percent. of the total amount of CO2 and it is estimated that by 2025 this number will double. Therefore, by regularly deleting all unnecessary files, apps or photos, we not only extend the life of devices, but also contribute to the preservation of the environment.
What steps can be taken to reduce the amount of data?
Every company or ordinary user should start with a periodic review of the data they have - an audit.
"Anyone who has reviewed existing data repositories, e-mail mailboxes or personal drives and data sources, can find out where their data comes from and how much they have. During the review, datasets should be classified based on potential value and use cases. After assessing the value of the stored data, unnecessary data can be deleted or their size can be reduced, thereby reducing the data storage needs and the related carbon dioxide costs," says the CEO of "Interneto vizijos".
In order to dig up the virtual space, we should first of all pay attention to unnecessary e-mails. emails and files and obsolete articles that we still host online. Also exclusive and obsolete data backups. These and other file types mentioned are probably the most common types of virtual junk that should be regularly reviewed and cleaned.
"It is important to highlight that it often happens that we think we have deleted certain files, but they continue to remain in the databases we use. For example, after deleting an e-mail mail, it is not automatically removed from the server. The mail itself is placed in the trash directory and remains on the server. Therefore, in order to completely remove the mail from the server, it must also be removed from this directory. We face a similar situation when it comes to files that we delete on the Internet server or smart device we use," comments Lukas Vitkevičius.
A clean environment is a priority for every business
The business sector is responsible for an increasing amount of data, as the data provided by users has become a valuable resource for every company. The information obtained from users and their devices provides useful insights into companies' customers and their performance.
According to the representative of "Internet vision", every socially responsible business should contribute to changes that would help stabilize the impact of data storage on the environment. It is recommended to carry out not only regular audits of company data, but also to take care of "clean" energy that meets the needs of the used data centers. For example, 100 percent "Internet Vision" The energy used in the company's data center comes from renewable sources.
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