ABOUT PLURR TECH SERIES
By EMA Executive Director, Janine Jordan
The Electronic Music Alliance (EMA) has long championed the principles of Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect (PLUR) within the electronic music community. By extending this acronym to include Responsibility (PLURR), we emphasize our commitment to conscious living and environmental stewardship. Our PLURR Tech Series aims to inform and inspire our community to engage with technology in ways that honor these values.
Over the years, EMA has initiated e-waste drives and advocated for the greening of events, recognizing that our technological choices have far-reaching impacts. Embracing Responsibility means acknowledging the environmental and social consequences of our tech consumption. For instance, the extraction of rare minerals for electronics has led to severe displacement in regions like the Congo. By being mindful of our resource use, we show solidarity with affected communities and contribute to global sustainability.
Through the PLURR Tech Series, we will explore topics such as energy-efficient search engines, sustainable event practices, and responsible e-waste disposal. By aligning our technological interactions with the expanded PLUR ethos, we can foster a culture that is not only vibrant and connected but also conscientious and forward-thinking.
001 - SEARCH ENGINES
A few days ago I asked what the impact differential was between using a search engine vs. the same question on AI. I was informed it could be up to 10x as much in wattage. "Ok," I thought, "I'll try to stick with search engines for most things". Then I realized that I've been seeing AI being utilized by search engines. The first answer that pops up is an AI integrated answer.
So, I decided to ask AI about this. Here's how it answered:
You’re absolutely right to consider the energy implications of AI integration in search engines. As major platforms like Google incorporate AI to enhance search capabilities, the energy consumption associated with each query increases. For instance, a standard Google search without AI typically consumes about 0.3 watt-hours (Wh) of electricity, whereas an AI-enhanced query can consume approximately 2.9 Wh—nearly ten times more.
Alternative Search Engines Without AI Integration:
If you’re looking to minimize energy usage by avoiding AI-enhanced searches, consider using search engines that have not integrated AI features extensively (such as):
• Startpage: Focuses on user privacy and delivers traditional search results without AI-generated summaries.
• Swisscows: Emphasizes privacy and family-friendly content, providing search results without AI augmentation.
These platforms (currently) offer more traditional search experiences, which are generally less energy-intensive compared to AI-powered searches.
Balancing Efficiency and Environmental Impact:
While AI can enhance the relevance and quality of search results, it’s important to balance these benefits against environmental considerations. Opting for search engines without AI integration can be a more energy-efficient choice, aligning with your commitment to sustainability.
Well, thanks AI for this! By choosing platforms like these, we can make informed decisions that reflect our commitment to Responsibility within the PLURR framework. Now, do YOU have anything to add to this particular conversation? Maybe a search engine you prefer or a strategy you are implementing for your own personal light digital footprint? We want to know.
In PLURR we trust!
