Correction for Streaming Media’s Environmental Impact
https://doi.org/10.1525/001c.17242
In Table 1 of the published article, due to a transcription error, one line in the streaming carbon footprint calculator is mistaken. It should read “× 0.0007 metric tons of CO2 (Environmental Protection Agency 2020),” not “× 0.007 metric tons of CO2 (Environmental Protection Agency 2020).” While correcting this mistake, we are also adding a calculation in kilograms of CO2e, to facilitate smaller calculations, and noting that the carbon footprint is measured in kilograms or metric tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
The article has been corrected accordingly.
The corrected Table 1 is shown below.
Table 1:Calculating the carbon footprint of a given streaming program
Length of the streaming video in hours
|
× GB per hour for a given resolution (Summerson 2018)
|
× gigabytes per hour for a given resolution (Summerson 2018):
|
480 pixels: ~792 MB/hour
|
720p: ~1.3 GB/hour
|
1080p: ~1.9-2.55 GB/hour
|
1440p: ~2.8 GB/hour
|
4K: ~3.5-7 GB/hour
|
× energy intensity: 4.91 kWh/GB (see above)
|
× number of unique viewers
|
× 0.707 kgCO2e/kWh (Environmental Protection Agency 2020)
|
= carbon footprint in kilograms of CO2e (CO2 and other greenhouse gases).
|
|
For larger volumes use:
|
× 0.0007 metric tons CO2e/kWh (Environmental Protection Agency 2020)
|
= carbon footprint in metric tons of CO2e |
Submitted: March 08, 2021 PDT
Accepted: March 08, 2021 PDT