Google Workspace will now let you track exactly how much power all your apps are using
Expansion of carbon footprint monitoring module also includes granting access to department heads
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Following on from the introduction ofCarbon Footprint for Google WorkspaceatGoogleCloud Next ‘23, admins can now use the service to monitor and analyse their electricity usage.
Theannouncementcomes via a partnership with Electricity Maps, a company providing an API offering readouts of “real-time and predictive electricity signals” to customers.
Previously, only top-level admins could access carbon footprint information, but now the ability to assign a custom role with the ability to do so is baked into Workspace.
Carbon emissions on the rise
Google is right to note in the announcement that cloud computing - and AI - have drastically increased carbon emissions from the tech industry.
However, while the incorporation of the Electricity Maps API will help companies know what needs to be done to keep emissions down, the announcement fails to address the fact of the matter; that, as one of the bestcloud storageandAI toolproviders, and largest companies in the world, Google is probably more responsible as a contributor to climate change than any of its customers.
The announcement does include a mention ofGoogle’s intent to be “carbon-free” by 2030, by both cutting down and moving to “nature-based” solutions, while sharing these with companies worldwide, which is honourable, and, providing it actually achieves this, does mean that Carbon Footprint for Workspace isn’t just Google passing the buck to others.
More from TechRadar Pro
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Luke Hughes holds the role of Staff Writer at TechRadar Pro, producing news, features and deals content across topics ranging from computing to cloud services, cybersecurity, data privacy and business software.
AMD just outsold Intel in the data center space for the first time ever
The UK government wants to help businesses make trustworthy AI products
Apple iMac 24-inch M4 (2024) review: the best, and most colorful, all-in-one computer levels up
