Thank You Emails and Carbon: Why the 16,433 Tonne Saving Claim Is Wrong

An old viral claim said Britain could save 16,433 tonnes of carbon a year if everyone sent one fewer thank you email. This article shows why that number was based on a rough 2010 estimate and why it does not survive contact with how networks and data centers actually run. The equipment stays on whether you hit send or not, so skipping one email saves almost nothing. Key distinction: average footprint versus marginal footprint. Dividing total data center energy by total emails gives a big number, but the extra energy from one more or one fewer email is close to zero. The article points to more useful actions, like keeping phones and laptops longer, since manufacturing a device accounts for a large share of its lifetime emissions.