Sustainable Computing
Computing has a footprint. Let’s understand it.
Every search, stream, and AI prompt consumes energy, water, and ‘stuff’. Everything in your laptop or phone – and the people, communities and infrastructures that make them run – comes from somewhere and goes somewhere after you’re done with it. This site collects what we know – and what we’re still learning – about the environmental footprint of computing at Cornell and beyond.
To address Cornell’s rapidly growing activities and investments in technology and computing and bring them into alignment with campus sustainability goals, the Sustainable Cornell Council established a Sustainable Computing Working Group charged with three main tasks:
- Improving tracking and public reporting of computing-related sustainability metrics at Cornell;
- Increasing awareness and education around computing and AI-related sustainability challenges; and
- Exploring and promoting more sustainable alternatives, including where thoughtful use of computational and AI tools may enhance and support Cornell’s wider sustainability goals.
- Steve Jackson, Professor, Information Science and Science and Technology Studies, Vice Provost, Academic Innovation
- Kim Anderson, Assistant Director, Campus Sustainability Office
- James Best, Director, Cornell Retail Services
- Boubakar Diallo, Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Udit Gupta, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell Tech
- Monique Harrison, Senior Research & Planning Associate, Office of Institutional Research
- Richard Knepper, Director, Cornell Center for Advanced Computing
- Alan Martinez Lead, Climate and Nature Finance, Strategic Partnerships, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability
- Random McCutcheon, R5 Operations
- Aashay Mody, Student, Environment & Sustainability
- Mikael Murphy-Rendon, Student
- Meredith Rutherford, Sustainability Manager, Campus Sustainability Office
- Paul Vermette, ’22, MPS ‘25
How we are tracking sustainable computing on campus
Procurement
Cornell University purchases IT hardware—such as computers, servers, and networking equipment—through Cornell Procurement Services preferred vendors. These suppliers provide products that are ENERGY STAR compliant and meet EPEAT® Silver or Gold standards, the university's baseline environmental requirement.
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®) is a system that helps purchasers to evaluate, compare, and select computers and IT devices based on their environmental attributes. Each EPEAT threshold provides clear and consistent performance criteria for sustainable product design, giving manufacturers incentives and recognition to reduce the environmental impact of their products throughout the sourcing and manufacturing process. In 2026, over 83% of Cornell’s electronics expenditures met the EPEAT Gold standard.
Waste
E-waste at Cornell is handled through Sunnking. Sunnking is an electronics recycling and asset management company, specializing in processing and recycling unwanted electronic waste (e-waste), securely destroying digital data, and providing sustainable business services. In 2025, Cornell processed over 94 tons of electronic waste with Sunnking.
Cornell encourages electronics recycling and waste diversion by extending their laptop trade-in cycle from three to four years and providing large and small scale electronics recycling opportunities throughout the year.
Cornell also partners with student groups like the Cornell Computer Reuse Association and local organizations like the Ithaca Reuse ECenter to promote the repair, reuse and responsible recycling of computing devices. This includes the annual Bowers Earth Day Repair Fair held in Gates Hall each spring.
Energy and Water
Efforts are currently underway with Cornell Information Technologies, major vendors, faculty and student researchers, and the AI Strategy Council to better track and report energy and water use associated with university-affiliated on premise, cloud, and AI services - an important and growing part of Cornell’s overall computing footprint. Awareness around these key issues has also been added to our AI literacy and training efforts with students, faculty and staff and forms an important part of our upcoming Unplug and Connect initiative. Please check back to this site for updates and additional information this fall.