When it comes to outdoor learning, sustainability is always at the heart of what we do at Love Outdoor Learning. We look to nature for inspiration, we work to minimise waste, and we constantly encourage the next generation to care for the environment. But sustainability doesn’t just happen outdoors. Over Christmas, my family had a lot of discussions about the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence and tools like ChatGPT. How sustainable are they? What is the carbon footprint of a question? Does it vary much between a search engine and an AI tool? With many of my family working in sustainability in different ways (designing green spaces, writing policies, designing and making clothing), it is something we are all aware of. But, have you ever thought about how sustainability applies to the way we gather information? In this blog, I’m exploring the impact of using AI-driven tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI automatic answers compared to the traditional approach of googling and sifting through various sources. As educators, it is our job to stay on top of sustainability discussions, and hopefully, this will help you.
The Old-School Way of Searching
For years, the go-to method of finding information was to open Google (or another search engine), type in a query, and then comb through pages of links to find the answer. And, let’s face it, if the answer wasn’t on the first few pages, we would often give up looking. While this method taught us patience and critical thinking, it also required:
- Time: Searching, clicking, and evaluating multiple sources isn’t instant.
- Energy: Every click, every page load, and every advertisement consumes data and energy.
- Judgment: Users needed to discern which sources were credible and relevant, which encouraged digital literacy.
However, the old-school approach had its own hidden environmental cost—the energy consumed by large data centers that power search engines. This is something we have not given much thought to until recently.
Enter AI: Instant Answers at Your Fingertips
AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s new automatic answers have revolutionised how we search for information. Instead of wading through pages of search results, users now receive concise, tailored answers in seconds. Here’s how this impacts sustainability:
- Efficiency:
- AI reduces the number of searches and page loads needed to find an answer, potentially lowering the overall energy consumption.
- Users can get straight to the information they need without loading multiple web pages.
- Data Centre Load:
- While AI still relies on data centres, fewer searches may mean fewer overall requests processed by search engines.
- That said, AI processing itself can be energy-intensive, especially during the training phase of models.
The Carbon Footprint of Each Option
Now we know the pros and cons, but what is the carbon footprint of each? This is important because understanding the carbon footprint of our digital habits is key to making more sustainable choices. Let’s compare the old-school search method with AI-driven answers:
- Old-School Searching:
- Every search query sent to Google requires energy for processing, and loading multiple web pages adds to the total carbon footprint. On average, a single Google search emits around 0.2 grams of CO2 (source: Google Sustainability Report).
- Clicking through several pages, viewing ads, and streaming videos or loading heavy content increases the emissions significantly. Though, how often do we click through things and not just rely on the first website that appears?
- While individual searches might seem low in carbon impact, billions of daily searches add up quickly—but the same is true of AI.
- AI-Driven Tools:
- AI models like ChatGPT require significant computational power, especially during the training phase. Training large models can produce thousands of tons of CO2 (source: Strubell et al., 2019).
- Estimates suggest that answering a question with AI might produce more CO2 than a single Google search but less than the cumulative footprint of multiple searches and clicks (source: OpenAI Blog).
- Overall Impact:
- Traditional searching spreads its energy use across numerous servers and websites, while AI centralises the processing in fewer, more efficient data centres. However, centralisation might also lead to increased dependency on fewer providers, which has its own risks and sustainability concerns, such as potential biases in the information we receive.
- Companies like Google and OpenAI are investing in renewable energy to power their data centres, which helps reduce the carbon footprint of both search methods (source: OpenAI and Google Sustainability Reports).
- Estimates suggest that processing a single query with AI can consume approximately 0.004 kWh of electricity, translating to about 2 grams of CO2 per query, depending on the energy source’s carbon intensity (source: arxiv.org). In comparison, an average Google search emits around 0.2 grams of CO2 (source: Google Sustainability Report).
- It’s also important to pay attention to where my information has come from. Getting accurate figures in this area is tricky, so I have used reports that the specific companies themselves have created, often using studies they paid for. Independent studies may yield slightly different results.
The Sustainability Dilemma
So, does using AI make us more sustainable? It’s complicated. While it is hoped that AI can reduce the energy required for individual searches, the computational power needed to train and run AI models is significant. Large-scale AI models like those used by Google and OpenAI require vast amounts of data and energy to develop.
Moreover, there’s a human factor to consider. The old-school way of searching taught us valuable skills: how to evaluate sources, how to dig deeper, and how to be discerning about the information we consume. Instant answers, while convenient, can sometimes discourage critical thinking and exploration. In a world where news is politically driven, and narratives can be manipulated, it is essential that the next generation, (and ours), are critical thinkers who know what questions to ask.
A Balanced Approach
At Love Outdoor Learning, we believe in balance—whether it’s balancing time spent indoors and outdoors or balancing convenience with critical thinking. Here are some tips for a more sustainable approach to digital information gathering:
- Use AI Wisely:
- For quick answers or clarifications, AI is incredibly useful.
- However, for more in-depth research, it’s still valuable to explore multiple sources.
- Be Critical:
- Even when using AI, always question the information provided. My own experience is that AI often wants to please you, which means sometimes it will completely make things up to do so.
- Look for corroborating evidence or additional perspectives when researching important topics.
- Teach Critical Thinking:
- As educators, we have a responsibility to teach young people how to evaluate both AI-generated answers and traditional search results. Activities that encourage comparison and source verification can help build this skill.
- Support Sustainable Tech:
- Many tech companies are investing in renewable energy to power their data centers. Supporting those that prioritise sustainability helps reduce the overall impact of our digital lives.
- Reduce Your Digital Carbon Footprint:
- Consider using eco-friendly search engines like Ecosia, which plants trees with the revenue generated from searches.
As we continue to embrace new technologies, it’s important to stay mindful of their impact—both positive and negative. AI has the potential to make information gathering faster and more efficient, but it’s not without its environmental cost. While this blog explores some of the facts and figures available at the start of 2025, there is no doubt that the world of technology is fast changing.
As educators, we have a responsibility to teach our children and young people how to use both search engines and AI thoughtfully. We also have a responsibility to explore the wider issues surrounding each, providing balance while being mindful of the tools we need to strive for a more sustainable future.
At Love Outdoor Learning, we’re always looking for ways to be more sustainable, both in how we teach and how we learn. Whether it’s through outdoor activities or digital exploration, we encourage everyone to stay curious, stay critical, and stay kind to the planet.
What are your thoughts on AI and sustainability? We’d love to hear from you!
