Summary
This research paper identifies the factors influencing data storage and calculates its impact on carbon emissions. It discusses the growing global datasphere and emphasizes that the environmental impact of data storage extends beyond electricity consumption, highlighting the significant carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing and transportation of storage devices. The paper outlines how underutilized drives can be leveraged for data storage, suggesting that enabling these drives to operate at full capacity can lead to substantial carbon savings. The research also presents a model estimating carbon footprint reductions when using Storj, a decentralized storage system, compared to traditional centralized cloud storage. The findings indicate potential carbon savings of 66-83% per terabyte of enterprise data over three years. Additionally, the paper discusses the importance of data durability and replication in storage practices, which contribute to the overall carbon emissions from data centers. The research underscores the need for more sustainable data storage solutions to mitigate environmental impacts.
