Zoom and CO2 Emissions

How much CO2 is emitted during video meetings?

Like many businesses this past year, we have conducted much of our work via Zoom and other video conferencing services. We know all digital footprints also come with associated carbon footprints, so it was important to look into this more. While we are still seeking to understand the full impact, we found an answer that points us in the right direction.

The answer is: it’s complicated. It depends on where people are Zooming in from. Emissions in one place could be very different from those in another. Other factors include the device someone is using, how many peripherals they have attached such as an external monitor or speakers, the type of connection they have to the internet (wired connections are 6-22 times more efficient than wireless connections!), and whether or not they have their video on.

Working locally and walking or biking to work is more energy-efficient than going to Zoom meetings! Taking public transit or driving an electric vehicle is roughly on par. However, where video conferencing truly shines is in comparison to flying. If unnecessary flights were replaced with video conferencing, we would all be better off!