The growing sustainability impact of edge infrastructure

A single camera, sensor, or access control device is unlikely to attract much attention in an enterprise sustainability strategy. It consumes relatively little energy. It operates quietly in the background. It represents only a fraction of an organization’s overall technological footprint.

But when you multiply that device by thousands—or even the tens of thousands—then the calculation starts to look very different.

That’s the reality of today’s enterprise edge. Connected devices are embedded throughout buildings, campuses, stores, factories, and other environments. The purpose is admirable; they’re intended to support security, safety, and day-to-day operations. And since many devices operate around the clock and remain in service for years upon years, they create a cumulative energy footprint that can be easy to overlook.

For CIOs motivated to reduce emissions and operational costs, that makes the edge an important part of the sustainability equation. Cloud efficiency and data center infrastructure are already important parts of that conversation, but they don’t provide the full picture. Organizations also need visibility into the devices operating at the edge.

Axis Communications analyses show that between 60% and 80% of a network camera’s total environmental impact comes from the energy consumed during the use phase of the device. This is primarily because these devices are designed to operate consistently over several years, leading to energy consumption that outweighs the impact of material extraction, manufacturing, and logistics. 

For CIOs facing increased accountability around  Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, this fact presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While many decision-makers lack a clear understanding of how much energy these systems actually consume, that uncertainty is compounded by the thousands of connected edge devices organizations manage. Ultimately, you can’t optimize what you don’t measure, and without the clarity, sustainability reporting and strategies remain incomplete. 

There is good news via a modern solution. Smarter edge technology can significantly reduce environmental impact while also improving a business’s operational efficiency. 

Modern edge devices are designed to do more with less. Developments in intelligent software, hardware, and advanced compression reduce the amount of data that needs to travel across networks or be stored in power-hungry devices. Additional features like high-efficiency SoCs (System on a Chip) and advanced compression can further reduce downstream energy demands tied to bandwidth and storage. 

The result? Measurable sustainability gains that don’t sacrifice performance or security. 

Efficiency matters at scale 

“If you take one of our P32 cameras, the energy consumption during normal use is less than a regular LED light bulb,” says Ulrika Renmark, Sustainability Sales Engagement Director at Axis Communications. “The energy consumption of servers, on the other hand, is measured in hundreds of watts. And if you include the air-conditioning of the server room, then we are talking thousands of watts.” 

Renmark points to Zipstream, an Axis-developed optimization technology, which reduces bandwidth and storage needs without sacrificing image quality. Similar innovations can significantly reduce the energy footprint associated with supporting infrastructure, and they represent what responsible edge innovation should look like in today’s high-tech world. 

This shift reflects a broader opportunity in enterprise IT. Sustainability gains increasingly come from intelligent architecture decisions rather than standalone sustainability initiatives. Processing data at the edge, where appropriate, can reduce unnecessary cloud traffic, lower latency, and improve resilience, all while minimizing energy consumption. 

Hybrid architecture is especially well-positioned to support these goals. By balancing processing between edge devices and the cloud, organizations can optimize performance, security, and sustainability. This approach contributes to improved device lifespan, improved security posture, and reduced operational waste. 

Cloud-enabled lifecycle management can further amplify these opportunities. Remote diagnostics, firmware updates, and centralized device management reduce the need for on-site maintenance visits and manual interventions. That not only cuts operational costs but also lowers emissions associated with travel and hardware replacement. 

The path forward starts with visibility 

In their quest for sustainability, organizations should begin by auditing edge infrastructure to identify where energy consumption is concentrated across devices. Procurement teams should prioritize vendors that provide transparent energy data and demonstrate continuous improvements in efficiency. Sustainability considerations should also extend beyond energy use to include repairability, lifecycle management, and total cost of ownership. 

The ultimate goal isn’t to necessarily make edge infrastructure the centerpiece of an organization’s sustainability strategy. It’s to make sure edge infrastructure isn’t missing from the conversation.

As mentioned, a single device may represent only a small opportunity for improvement. Across thousands of cameras, sensors, access control systems, and other connected technologies, however, the incremental sum in energy consumption can add up.

As enterprise technology environments continue to expand, sustainability will increasingly depend on decisions made throughout the entire infrastructure. Understanding the impact of those decisions will help organizations find efficiencies that might otherwise remain hidden.

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