Carbon Emissions: Virtual Meetings

Source: RepStack - Azhar Siddiqui (unaltered and permitted by the following license)

The expanded use of virtual meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom has provided more environmentally sustainable options by which to hold a meeting compared to traveling to meet in person. This does not mean that there are zero emissions associated with virtual meetings. In fact, one hour of videoconferencing can emit 0.3 to 2.2 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) (compared to almost 20 pounds of CO2 released per gallon of gasoline used) and requires 1/2 to just over 3 gallons of water per person.

There are ways to reduce the emission numbers further so that your virtual meeting is as sustainable as possible. For example, turning off your webcam during a video call can reduce emissions by 53% (phone) to 96% (computer). (Sources: Obringer et al. 2021; Greenspector 2022). And if you need to use video, lowering video quality (i.e., resolution) from high to standard definition can reduce emissions by up to 86%. (Source: Obringer et al. 2021). Sharing your screen with others during a virtual meeting also adds to the meeting's carbon footprint. When using audio only, turning off the screen share can result in a 14.5% (phone) to 24.0% (computer) savings in total energy used (Source: Greenspector 2022).

Hints & Habits

You can minimize emissions from virtual meetings through a few simple actions:

• Use Teams or Zoom over other videoconferencing apps as much as possible.

• Minimize the amount of time you share your screen with others on the call.

• Consider turning off your camera during a video call.

If you need to use your computer camera, lower the video quality to a minimum acceptable level:

1. Click the “Start” button in the lower-left corner of your screen and select the “Camera” app.

2. Click the “Gear” symbol in the upper-left corner of the “Camera” window.

3. Click on “Video Settings” and select the desired “Video quality” from the drop-down list.

4. Select the lowest “p” (i.e., pixel) value (e.g., 720p, 540p, 360p, etc.) that will still produce acceptable video quality.