Video calls and meetings are energy-hungry
- A one-hour video call with two people uses around 300MB
- A one-hour video call using high-definition video uses between 1 and 2GB depending on your screen size
- A one-hour audio call with two people (no video) uses around 30MB.
[Source: Gerry McGovern, Digital is Physical]
Video versus travel
If video conferencing replaces travel to reach meetings, it can be far better for the environment. Video conferencing produces just 7% of the emissions of meeting in person.
But with so many people switching to video calls as the default, it’s worth reflecting on whether video is always necessary.
How you can help
Switching to phone calls is the best solution. But if your meeting has to be done online:
- Use video at the beginning to say hello, then switch to audio (this emits 90% less pollution than a cameras-on meeting)
- Keep it as short as possible
- Invite only essential participants
- Use the lowest resolution and the smallest screen possible
- Avoid virtual backgrounds
- Consider using Zoom rather than Teams, as Zoom is more energy efficient
- Choose a video conferencing provider that’s committed to using 100% renewable energy (e.g. Google Meet)
- Don’t record and save the meeting…
- …But if you do, delete any saved videos after three months
- Switch off video for webinars
- Around the world, 299,000,000 meeting minutes are taken by MSFT Teams – every single minute. Switch off your note taker tool if you don’t need it
- Use wifi rather than your phone network – it uses half the energy.