Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator Terms of Use

Our Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator collects input relating to a customer’s on-premises datacentre(s), builds a model approximating operational energy consumption and contrasts this relative to a proposed cloud future. The calculator produces a report which compares the differences across both the on-premises and cloud scenarios relative to potential for carbon reduction. 

How it works 

On-Premises 

The calculator is underpinned by a study commissioned by Kainos and undertaken by datacentre environmental specialists leveraging academic studies and decades of field experience. The goal of the study was to create a model allowing the approximation of electricity consumption for an on-premises data centre. The data input for this model is limited to only that data typically discovered through a cloud migration e.g. the size/shape/number of servers hosted on-premises.  

 

This model works by approximating operational energy demand in kw/h pro-rated over time where: 

• Consumption is weighted against a PUE of 1.8 for traditional enterprise data centres. 
• Carbon impact is calculated using carbon intensity for electricity generation in the local region 

The goal is to shortcut existing data centre assessment approaches that require site visits and can often take days, weeks and sometimes, months.  

Cloud 

Whilst imperative attribution of carbon intensity to consumption of cloud services remains extremely difficult, as cloud services are a commodity treated under Scope 3 emissions for bought goods and services, it means cost is a useful carbon proxy. Thus we derive the carbon intensity of cloud services relative to metered customer consumption – or cost. 

To establish this basis of comparison the same model looks at either: 

1. Costs for equivalent cloud services calculated using migration tooling. 

1. A proposed replacement cloud architecture and expected operational costs. 

Using either of these inputs we can generate an estimated carbon impact figure based on available third-party information sources and public carbon disclosures from cloud providers. 

Basis for comparison 

As the consumption models for both scenarios are different (On-premises: CapEx+OpEx vs Cloud: OpEx) we can only really compare what is the constant across both – OpEx.  

Given the nature of cloud computing and the limited OpEx data which is published from providers, we have identified operational energy consumption as the most significant shared carbon source across both scenarios.  

Given how reservations have the propensity to skew costs for cloud provider services, we only make use of pay as you go (PAYG) pricing when calculating cloud carbon impact. 

Appropriate use  

The calculator provides an approximation of the potential carbon reductions related to operational energy impact when migrating your on-premises data centres to cloud. This tool is not a replacement for fuller sustainability assessment but rather a gauge for the level of operational energy savings which could be gained in migrating your data centres to cloud.  

On-Premises Assessment 

• Purpose: Approximates operational energy demand for a data centre using a model created using academic studies and field experience. 
• Limitations: 
  • The assessment model was tuned data centres running classic server-centric x86 estates, as such approximations for other hardware classes including storage, networking and non-x86 compute hardware are offered as indicative only. 

• • To support speed of report generation we have made generic assumptions on the breakdown of age/energy demand of hardware components. 

• • The carbon intensity of electricity generation is calculated at a region and/or country level; not at a datacentre level. 

 Cloud Assessment 

• Purpose: Approximates carbon impact of cloud consumption using cost as a carbon proxy. 
• Limitations: 

• • At time of model creation: 

• • No cloud provider publishes data allowing the carbon impact of cloud consumption to be forecast.  
  • No cloud provider publishes the differing carbon intensities of services offered. 

• • Given the lack of information published from cloud providers, the CCRC uses projected costs to derive carbon impact. 

• • This approach represents a global abstraction of carbon impact and does not reflect the differing carbon intensities regions or service. 

 

Legal 

• No warranty. Any use or operation of the Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator is at the user’s own risk. The Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator is provided free of charge, “AS-IS” and without warranty of any kind whether express, implied or statutory. 
• Disclaimer. Any report produced by the Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator is an estimate only. All decisions made in reliance on the Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator (in whole or part) and the consequences of them are exclusively the responsibility of the user. The user is solely responsible for accuracy and adequacy of the information and data provided to and/or arising out of use of the Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator.   
• Personal Information. If the user requests a full report from the Cloud Carbon Reduction Calculator then the user will be asked to provide their contact information. Please refer to Kainos’ Privacy Notice for further details on how Kainos may use this personal information. Both Kainos and users will comply with their respective obligations under applicable data protection or similar legislation.  
• Liability. Notwithstanding any damages that the user might incur for any reason whatsoever, (including without limitation all direct and general damages), the entire liability of Kainos, and user’s exclusive remedy, is limited to the nominal sum of £5.00. The existence of one or more claims will not enlarge the limitation of liability. Kainos is not liable any indirect, special or consequential costs or damages. This provision does not limit any party’s liability which may not be excluded or limited by applicable law.