The Sneaky Carbon Footprint of Streaming – Yes, Netflix Counts Too

 


The Sneaky Carbon Footprint of Streaming – Yes, Netflix Counts Too

(Or: Your Favourite Show Is (Literally) Heating Up the Planet)

Let’s set the scene.

You’re curled up on the sofa.
Snacks in hand.
Ready for one more episode (OK, five more).
It feels like the ultimate low-impact night in.

But here’s the twist:
🎬 Your cosy binge session might be costing the planet more than you think.

📡 Wait – Streaming Has a Carbon Footprint?

Yup. Watching Netflix, YouTube, or TikTok isn’t just bad for your sleep — it uses a surprising amount of energy.

Every video stream involves:

  • 🧠 Powerful data centres running 24/7

  • 📶 Network infrastructure transmitting data across continents

  • 📺 Your device using energy to display it all in glorious HD (or worse: 4K)

And if your electricity comes from fossil fuels… that data stream is powered by CO₂.

🗨️ “Just one more episode” now comes with a small side of carbon.

📊 How Much CO₂ Are We Talking?

Let’s crunch a few numbers (source: IEA, Shift Project, Carbon Trust):

ActivityEstimated Emissions
1 hour of HD video streaming~100g CO₂e
1 hour of 4K streaming~400g CO₂e
10 hours of binge-watchingUp to 4kg CO₂e
That true crime documentary you watched twice?A small forest sighs quietly

Now multiply that by billions of people, watching billions of hours, every year…

Data centres are responsible for around 2–3% of global electricity use, and that’s rising fast.

🛠️ Where Is All That Energy Going?

  • Data centres – storing, processing, and delivering your cat videos.

  • Content delivery networks – zooming the video to your location at high speed.

  • Wi-Fi routers, mobile networks, 5G masts – all running constantly.

  • Your device – phone, laptop, TV — the bigger and brighter, the more energy.

🌱 How to Stream Sustainably (Yes, You Can)

Relax, I’m not saying stop watching Bake Off.

But we can make it a little greener:

✅ Stream in SD not HD (especially on phones)

You probably won’t notice the difference, but your energy use will.

✅ Download instead of stream

Watching something multiple times? Downloading once uses less data than streaming it 5x.

✅ Use green energy at home

If your electricity is from renewables, your Netflix guilt drops dramatically.

✅ Turn off autoplay

If you really meant to stop at one episode, this will help. So will self-control. Probably.

✅ Choose providers powered by renewables

Some streamers are greener than others. Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify are getting better, but it’s worth checking.

✅ Use smaller screens when possible

A 50” TV uses more power than a phone. Obvious, but worth remembering.

⚡ What We Do at Home

  • Our internet and server kit runs off our 50kW solar-charged battery system

  • We turn off our media centre overnight

  • We’ve banned autoplay (except for guilty pleasures)

  • We film and host videos on YouTube, but also encourage downloads for lessons to reduce repeated streaming

🎬 Final Thought: Stream Smarter, Not Less

No one’s saying give up Netflix. (We’re not monsters.)

But if we all made small changes:

  • Lower resolution

  • Local downloads

  • Switching to renewable energy
    …we’d turn streaming from a carbon hog into something much closer to carbon neutral.

So go ahead — watch that documentary.
Just maybe… skip the 4K drone flyover unless it’s really stunning.

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