The Environmental Benefits of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

The need to reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change has been highlighted in recent years. Businesses and organizations worldwide are seeking innovative solutions to minimize their environmental impact. One viable solution that has become increasingly popular is the adoption of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

VDI is a technology that centralizes the delivery of desktop environments. This means that users can access their desktops from any device, anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection. Users can then access their virtual desktops through a thin client or a web browser, eliminating the need for powerful, energy-consuming personal computers. VDI is a powerful technology that can offer a number of benefits, including environmental benefits, for organizations of all sizes.

Nextira, Part of Accenture offers a suite of capabilities to help you build immersive futures. These include VDI, Studio in the Cloud and Unreal Engine on AWS. These powerful remote workstations streamline production and maximize productivity, regardless of your location, platform or hardware. Our Studio in the Cloud with Unreal Engine 5 is a VDI solution custom-made for game development studios. It is easy to deploy, scalable and free to install.

Here are some of the environmental benefits associated with VDI:

1. Reduced energy consumption: Traditional desktop computers use high levels of energy, even when they’re not being used. In contrast, thin clients used to access virtual desktops are much more energy-efficient. They have fewer components and require less power to operate. Additionally, because the processing power is centralized in the data center, organizations can optimize their server infrastructure for energy efficiency, further decreasing overall energy consumption.
2. Reduced electronic waste (e-waste): The fast pace of technological advancements leads to organizations frequently replacing their desktop computers to stay current with the latest hardware and software requirements. This vicious cycle of upgrading and disposing of old equipment contributes to the growing problem of e-waste, which poses severe environmental and health risks. Organizations can extend the lifespan of their hardware, as thin clients have a longer lifespan than traditional desktop computers by adopting VDI. Additionally, since the processing power is centralized, companies can upgrade their server infrastructure without having to replace individual user devices, significantly reducing e-waste.
3. Reduced physical footprint: Employees accessing their desktops remotely reduces the need for large office spaces to accommodate numerous desktop computers and their associated peripherals. As a result, the amount of energy required to heat, cool and light office spaces will decrease, as will the resources needed for the construction and maintenance of these spaces.
4. More flexible working arrangements: VDI can enable organizations to adopt more flexible working arrangements, such as remote work and telecommuting. This has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with employee commuting, demand for office space, and associated resources. Remote work can also contribute to a company’s overall sustainability by improving employee satisfaction and productivity.
5. More efficient use of resources: VDI can contribute to more efficient use of resources by enabling organizations to implement green IT practices. For example, VDI allows organizations to allocate licenses based on actual usage rather than purchasing licenses for each individual device. This contributes to a reduction in the amount of unused software, which often ends up as e-waste.

The adoption of VDI offers a compelling opportunity for organizations to contribute to a greener future. By reducing energy consumption, e-waste and the need for office space, VDI can help organizations to minimize their environmental impact and create a more sustainable workplace.

At Nextira, we’re experts at implementing VDI solutions with our immersive future capabilities. Contact us to learn more.