A recent study conducted by AMD suggests that their 6th generation A-series Processors, code-named Carrizo, will reduce carbon emissions by about 50% compared to their previous generation of processors. This study considers both the manufacturing process of the chip as well as the energy savings while it is in use. Most energy savings are in the use phase of the chip's life cycle. The study makes use of the widely accepted Greenhouse Gas Protocol established by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The study was subjected to third-party review to ensure it met with those guidelines.
AMD considers climate change to be a serious concern. Feeling that its previous efforts to reduce greenhouse gases were not good enough, AMD announced its 25X20 plan in 2014, which aims to increase energy efficiency by 25% by the year 2020, compared to what it was in 2014. Carrizo is the first product to be developed since the announcement of the 25x20 plan, and is a big step forward in energy efficiency.
According to the study, a business which upgrades 100,000 computers with the previous processor generation to the new one would save 4.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, or about $495,000, and 3,350 metric tons of CO2 over a three-year service life. Carrizo is the first AMD processor to meet the Heterogeneous System Architecture specification developed by the HSA Foundation, which makes it easier to program and allows better performance at low power consumption.
The chief technology officer of AMD, Mark Papermaster stated, "Creating low-power, energy-efficient products is a key element of our business strategy, and in turn, we are working alongside our customers to reduce the environmental footprint of technology while relentlessly improving performance. The results from the carbon footprint study for the latest AMD APU demonstrate our commitment to continued energy efficiency gains, sustainability, and lower operating costs for consumers and enterprises."
The full study can be found here.
