Just how green is file transfer? We decided to try and calculate it. Let’s consider the carbon footprint of sending an overnight package and compare that to the carbon footprint of an online file transfer solution.

First, let’s say we’re going to send a printed document weighing about two pounds (representing approximately 150 pages of 20# bond paper with a plastic cover) overnight from Atlanta, GA to Salt Lake City, UT. We’ll assume the document needs to be printed at some point, whether before or after it reaches it’s destination, so we won’t count the paper in the document itself. Let’s list all of the elements that go into sending an overnight package:

• Paper for shipping envelope/box.
• Paper for address label.
• Driving the package to the dropoff box.
• The carrier picking up the package and driving it to the distribution center.
• The package being driven from the distribution center to the airport.
• The airplane flying to it’s destination.
• The package being driven from the airport to the distribution center.
• The package being delivered from the distribution center to it’s destination.

Now, certain things will be nearly impossible to calculate, such as the paper needed for the envelope or address label, how far the carrier drives to or from it’s distribution centers, what percentage of that carbon footprint can be attributed to our package when considered with all of the other packages, etc. But there are certain elements we can calculate, so let’s focus on those:

Package Dropoff

Most of the time people are rushing to get a package to the carrier on time, so they don’t combine their trip with other errands. For argument sake, let’s say the nearest drop-off point for the carrier is one mile away (two miles roundtrip). Using a CO2 calculator¹ we can estimate that this single trip will release 2.2 lbs. of CO2.

Carrier Trucks

Then, just as a guestimate, let’s say our package’s portion of all of the trips from the dropoff point to distribution center, to the airport, to the second distribution center, to it’s final destination might be another 2 miles, for another 2.2 lbs of CO2.

Airline Travel

Then, using a carbon calculator for air cargo² we can estimate a 2 pound (1 kg) package on a Boeing 737-300 traveling the 1585 miles (2550 km) from Atlanta to Salt Lake City will release about 60 pounds (27 kg) of CO2.

Total

So, sending a single package will release approximately 64 pounds of CO2. And that’s not even counting the paper used in shipping package. Now, let’s take a look at the impact file transfer has.

We asked one of our sponsors, FileGenius, to estimate what kind of power it takes to service one of their customers. They estimated each one of their servers (and any associated systems such as external backups, UPSs, etc.) consumes roughly 400 watts, totaling 288 kWh per month.

(400 watts = .4 kWh = 9.6 kWh per day = 288 kWh per month)

With roughly 50 customers per server, each customer’s portion would be about 2.88 kWh per month. Using the same CO2 calculator from above we can estimate that each customer is responsible for 8.6 lbs. of CO2 per MONTH.

So, we can  see that sending ONE overnight package would be the equivalent carbon footprint of operating an online file transfer solution for over seven months. Clearly, online file transfer solutions are far greener than sending overnight packages.

And, as the folks at FileGenius pointed out, at over $40 to send a two pound package overnight via FedEx, a file transfer solution can pay for itself very quickly as well.

Now, consider the effect a large company switching to file transfer might have. What if they were to save 100 overnight packages a year? What about a thousand? The increase in the carbon footprint only goes up incrementally (if at all) for the file transfer solution, but the CO2 reduction becomes staggering. 

You can see why we think file transfer is green.

¹http://www.carbonify.com/carbon-calculator.htm
²http://sasems.port.se/EmissionCalc.cfm?lang=1&utbryt=0&sid=cargo&left=cargo