Your Digital Footprint in Review
Good morning! Today is Tuesday March 10th, 2026. Welcome to the Environmental Edit, this is the first newsletter of many. Today’s overview will focus on the environmental impact of databases and artificial intelligence chatbots. So next time you’ll think before you ask your “best friend” a question.
How much do you use technology?
Large server farm containing AI databases. Credit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
With social media being a social hub for many individuals across the world it is important to view the impact of digital technology on the environment. Intelligence media and artificial intelligence are used freely and carelessly while the environment is significantly suffering from these databases. Since many users are unaware of this impact, it is important to raise awarness. The “cloud” relies on server farms that require massive amounts of water to cool down these systems. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, large data centers can consume 5 million gallons of water per day or 1.8 billion gallons per year, (Yanez-Barnuevo, 2025). These datacenters also consume lots of electricity which can sometimes lead to air pollution depending on the energy sources used.
Weekly News
This image shows the US Coast Guard’s attempt at removing the crude oil from the water. Credit: USCG, Unified Command.
Following an oil spill off the coast of Louisiana, 31,500 gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of America. 464 responders, 60 vessels, and 28,000 feet of protective and collective boom were deployed to regulate the environmental impact of the spill. As of March 7th, 2026 27,888 gallons of crude oil have been recovered. Oil spills insert habitat fragmentation, suffocation among marine organisms, toxicity of water, and other marine environmental disturbances.
Environmental Ed Check
What percentage of earths’ water is freshwater?
A. 20%
B. 3%
C. 0.5%
D. 40%
Correct answer at the end of the newsletter!
Take action-Sustainable Tip of the Week
The usage of AI is inevitable among individuals in our society. However, there are ways to limit the environmental impact of AI. While using AI is not recommended, if you are in a desperate situation, try to shorten your prompts and be more concise in conversations with chatbots. There are also alternatives to chatbots, including EcoGPT, which plants a tree for each conversation and is powered by 100% renewable energy!
Conservative Conclusion
Well, that’s a wrap of the first newsletter of the Environmental Edit, a student lead initiative focused on environmental conservation and advocacy. The answer was B! We’re finally starting to escape from the frigid winter and roll into spring. See you next week!