Brief
Australians urged to declutter digital lives to cut carbon and boost wellbeing
Experts say clearing online trash, limiting apps and using a single cloud provider can cut personal carbon footprints and save time.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Australian readers are being encouraged to tidy their digital spaces after The Guardian reported that the average person’s online activity generates the equivalent of 229 kg of carbon emissions per year, according to a study in *Nature Communications*.
What happened
The article notes that Australians spend about 40 % of their waking hours online, producing substantial energy demand for data centres and AI tools. It cites research showing that AI‑driven text, image and video generation consumes “orders of magnitude” more energy than traditional computing. The piece also references an IDC study of 840 information workers that found the average employee wastes over two hours each week searching for lost files.
What the reports add
The Guardian highlights two academic voices: Libby Sadler, associate professor of organisational behaviour at Bond University, links digital clutter to cognitive friction and negative mood, while Andrew Cullen, senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne, likens a digital declutter to house cleaning, suggesting incremental steps such as deleting old store‑related emails.
What was said
Sadler told The Guardian, “Not being able to find things or having apps crash or run slowly because we haven’t updated software also puts us in a negative mood, which isn’t great for our work or life in general.” Cullen added, “Maybe you start off by just deleting all old emails from that online store you visited once. And while you’re at it, consider unsubscribing too. You’ll be amazed how quickly digital junk disappears if you just spend a few minutes on it every week.”
How it came about
The article frames the advice within growing public concern about data‑centre energy use, a topic also covered by Felo News in recent pieces on AI‑driven power demand and the U.S. Ratepayer Protection Act. It connects personal digital habits to broader environmental impacts, urging readers to act now.
Key facts
- The average Australian spends 40 % of waking hours online, generating about 229 kg of carbon emissions per year. (theguardian.com)
- AI tools consume far more energy than traditional computing, according to the Guardian article. (theguardian.com)
- An IDC study of 840 workers found they waste more than two hours each week searching for lost files. (theguardian.com)
- Libby Sadler says digital clutter harms mood and productivity. (theguardian.com)
- Andrew Cullen recommends deleting old emails and unsubscribing as a first step. (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Decluttering your online life: how to get your digital house in order and protect your data from AI”
