The concept of streaming started small but quickly became the main way most people consume their media. Today, hundreds of streaming platforms specialize in different types of media, like movies, music, and even video games.
While using these services has become second nature by now, the truth is that there is a cost for using them besides the monthly subscription. Storing and delivering all of that content requires a ridiculous amount of energy.
As such, streaming platforms are a major contributor of greenhouse gases. And you can’t just measure the number of hours that consumers enjoy this content because the data centers that house it operate 24/7 regardless of the consumer.
Today, we are going to look at the hidden impact that streaming services have on the environment.
How Does Streaming Data Reach You?
Let’s start by examining the path of the streaming data. As customers, we might think it is very easy because all we need to do is turn on the device we consume content on, access our favorite streaming service, and choose something to watch.
However, it isn’t that simple, and a lot more goes into delivering your content. So let’s start from the beginning.
The Datacenters.
These companies run huge data centers that not only house the content accessible in that region but are also responsible for distributing that content around the area. From the data centers, the content travels through Content Distribution Networks.
Essentially, these are locations in different geographical locations that store the same content so it can be delivered quickly to local customers. For example, the people in California are not on the same network as people in Florida.
This is where the data leaves control of the streaming platform and connects with Internet Service Providers (ISPs). It passes through their network to be delivered directly to their customer’s modems and routers.
Finally, peripherals like Firesticks, Rokusticks, Smart TVs, PlayStation 5s, and so on access that data to display on your device.
At every point on this journey, the content requires dozens of different physical hardware to arrive in your living room. Each of these requires electricity, and as you can imagine, it all adds up significantly due to the millions of users on each platform.
How Many Emissions Come From Streaming Platforms?
This isn’t a simple calculation, and the number is different for each company depending on the way their data centers are set up. And that’s only one side of the coin. You also have to look at emissions from their production.
As such, let’s take a look at the biggest name in streaming, Netflix. Netflix emitted 843,107,000 kg of CO2 in 2023.
In their latest ESG report, the company stated that in 2023, the biggest source of emissions was corporate at 61%, with production being the second largest contributor at 35%, and streaming making up that last 5%.
And yes, if you added those values up, it would equal 101%. That is because the report rounds up each percentage. If you were to read this report, you may immediately dismiss streaming as a problem for the environment.
However, this isn’t the full story, as Netflix does not include electricity usage from its customers or during the transmission process once it reaches an ISP. As such, they are purposely excluding the largest part of their business model.
Now, to be fair, all companies do this, and there is no real way for them to calculate it.
If you walk into 10 different homes, the odds are that you will see 10 different TV models and a variety of peripherals that these houses use to stream content. Calculating this energy usage is impossible unless they start monitoring each and every device in your household.
And let’s not forget that different power sources result in different levels of emissions.
As such, these companies ignore what they cannot control.
How Many Emissions Come From Home Streaming?
Well, as I said, this is nearly impossible to figure out without taking some logical leaps, but let’s give it a shot anyway.
The average emissions from one hour of home streaming is 55g of CO2. The average user in America spends 3 hours using a combination of streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, etc.).
That means that every day, the average user will create 165g of CO2 per day. If we extend that to 365 days, that comes out to 60,225g of CO2.
If we stick with our focus on Netflix, they have 89.6 million subscribers in the United States and Canada. That’s going to give us a yearly total of 5,396,160,000kg of CO2, which is more than 5 times what Netflix stated they released in 2023.
And this number is only from its US customer base.
This is some simple arithmetic that uses some general averages, so take it with a grain of salt. However, I think most people will agree that Netflix, and pretty much every tech company, are ignoring the lion’s share of their products or services emissions.
Why Don’t Companies Include Customer Emissions?
You may be wondering, why companies do not include emissions from home streaming, and the answer is pretty simple. Are they responsible for 100% of the emissions when you tune into Netflix?
No, they are not.
Think about it. Does Netflix design the transmission system used by an ISP? No. Does Netflix provide you with a modem to connect to the internet? Nope. Did Netflix create the Smart TV or peripheral you use to stream on? No.
Does Netflix determine how electricity is generated in your area? Of course not.
So, it’s unfair to say that all of the emissions that are generated when watching your favorite show are the result of steaming platforms.
It’s a group effort, and trying to determine how many emissions come from each piece is not possible without these companies getting a closer look inside your household, which I think we can all agree we don’t want.
How Can I Help Lower My Home Streaming Emissions?
As a customer, you can lower your impact on the environment by having better streaming habits.
First and foremost, the device you stream from matters. For example, if you use your PlayStation 5 to stream on your TV, that’s two sources of electricity. Purchasing an energy-efficient television will have a smaller carbon footprint.
It is also worth noting that consuming streaming content from a smartphone is more energy efficient than using your TV.
Another way to mitigate your home streaming emissions is to ensure the devices you are using have an “Auto Power Off” mode. This will kick in when you do not interact with the equipment for an extended period.
This will help prevent you from having streaming content play for hours while you or someone else may have fallen asleep while they were trying to binge a show. Most Smart TVs and streaming appliances have this feature nowadays.
However, you may need to adjust the timer to better match your viewing habits.
Many streaming platforms today will offer you a variety of streaming resolution options. These determine the quality of the stream. This is determined by the plan you subscribe to, but you’ll often have 720p, 1080p, and 4k to choose from.
The higher the resolution you choose, the bigger the carbon footprint. As such, a simple way to lower your carbon footprint is to choose a lower-resolution option. For many people, the jump from 1080p to 4k isn’t even noticeable.
Perhaps the most obvious way to cut back on your home streaming emissions is the simplest method – watch less. While it may not be the most popular option, if you consume less streaming content, you will have a smaller carbon footprint.
Are All Streaming Services Equal?
Another consideration to make is that not all streaming services are created equal when it comes to emissions. Today, you can stream virtually anything with the big three being movies, music, and video games.
Naturally, the amount of emissions each activity produces is different. Thus, some are less impactful than others.
Music streaming services like Spotify are actually the least impactful out of the three. This is primarily because most people stream these services from their smartphones to listen to music on the go.
The other major factor is the size of the file being transmitted. Simply put, music files are smaller than movie files. Thus, it takes less power to deliver them to your device. The same cannot be said for video games.
Video games are still relatively new as far as streaming goes, but are likely the future of the industry. Video games are significantly larger than movies or music. In most cases, they are well over 50 GB per title, with many exceeding 100 GB.
The hardware required to run these titles also uses more power. You not only need to stream the game, but you need to accept the player inputs in real-time. This needs to have minimal lag, otherwise the game is unplayable for most.
They also have additional factors that do not apply to music or movies.
Unlike music or movies that get the final product, most games receive constant updates throughout their lifespans. As such, that requires hardware to be updated regularly, which will add to the emission problem.
Is Physical Media Lower Emissions Than Streaming?
As streaming and digital media take over entertainment, it is fair to wonder if physical media is any better.
Generally speaking, if you were to stream one song or listen to it on a CD or Vinyl, the streamed song would have a smaller carbon footprint. This is because the CD or Vinyl has to be physically manufactured.
This means it needs a case, packaging, and needs to be transported to stores, where once it is bought, will be transported again to the customer’s home. The emissions add up fast, and the more copies sold, the bigger the impact.
That said, the story changes when you consider a simple question. How often do you listen to a specific song? Probably not often, especially if it isn’t your favorite. As such, there is a point where the physical media is a better option.
However, that isn’t the whole story, right?
In most cases, you will typically leave the music on for hours while doing other tasks like working out, cooking, and so on. Streaming allows you to constantly listen to more music, which is why it is such a popular option.
Physical media would lead to lower consumption because you have fewer options.
Yes, there are exceptions, but in most cases, people will only buy a single album at a time. And because the price tag of a streaming service is far lower than purchasing physical media, you have far more people engaging with the service.
So, if you look at it collectively, it is fair to say that streaming is more impactful than physical media ever was, but if you were to compare them one-to-one, streaming would be more efficient.
Will AI Impact Streaming Platforms?
AI continues to be a buzzword for businesses around the world, and streaming platforms are no exception.
When you log into a streaming service, you are often treated with recommendations based on what you have previously watched. AI will be used to make better recommendations, which will only lead to more user engagement.
Anyone familiar with AI should also be aware that it uses a tremendous amount of energy. Thus, as AI is integrated more deeply with streaming services, the power consumption for streaming services will only get higher.
This will likely lead to delays in these services reaching climate goals, but as long as the data centers are powered by renewables, then it will not lead to more emissions. However, because that is not the case yet, it is likely to result in higher carbon emissions.
Recommendations aren’t the only way AI can impact the streaming industry. AI models can also find improvements to the data centers themselves. This can help lower energy requirements, however, the technology is still in its infancy.
It is very difficult to identify how AI will impact the streaming industry, or any industry with our current knowledge.
Can Streaming Ever Be Carbon Neutral?
Absolutely. Streaming platforms can be carbon neutral, but it could take decades to achieve. The biggest issue with streaming is the electricity usage. The data centers, the transmission process, and the equipment at home…it all adds up to create one big problem.
And we already have a solution to that problem, renewable energy.
Streaming platforms like Netflix are already aiming for 100% renewable energy usage. However, this is challenging and will take decades to achieve. In the meantime, Netflix is planning on offsetting the energy that doesn’t come from renewables.
This involves producing energy, funding reforestation efforts, and other tasks to lower carbon emissions that match what they produce. Again, this does not take into consideration the impact of home streaming.
And they are not alone in this, as most streaming platforms have similar goals. So, yes, one day, streaming platforms can be carbon neutral. But it will take a lot of time and money to achieve.
How much time do you spend using streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, and more?
