· 5 min read
Where do we draw the impact line?
Geopolitical order shifts fast. Nations and industries are racing to adapt. Simultaneously our living system is under visible stress – crossing critical ice and heat boundaries daily, and generating disequilibrium, from melting glaciers and wildfires to floods and extremely dangerous heatwaves.
Some sciences are inexact by definition, and that is the case of earth as well as life sciences like medicine. Others aren’t, for example maths and physics. When geopolitical turmoils complicate or reshuffle scientific evidence from the inexact branches, absolute values from the exact ones come to our aid!
Math provides us the so-called absolute values — clear, objective measures that don’t depend on perspective. We can use these values to draw exact boundaries, and energy savings fits perfectly in. It is an absolute good: even for companies whose business relies on selling energy, savings are not a loss. They can be devoted to other parts of the energy system, since all sources complement one another. Energy savings have an undeniable positive impact on society, the planet, and business alike.
Through this premise, we can now state that any technology that saves energy lies on the right side of the impact line!
Use more tech and do it better!
Technology is part of who we are. We use it to research, measure, monitor, optimise and evolve. Every time we apply it, we have a chance to do it for good.
The “3-to-tango” suite – businesses, public institutions, and civil society – should all accept responsibility for sustainable development, i.e. a no-harm development. Technology is the thread running through the 3. It powers complex systems – from logistics to infrastructure – and when optimised, these same systems lower emissions, reduce waste and have positive externalities overall.
Clouds and AI: Power and responsibility
The cloud and AI are central to optimising storage and operations. They connect people, systems, and processes, with users sharing tools across nearly every area of human activity. Cloud infrastructure unifies and streamlines performance, saving energy through optimisation. AI consumes some of that energy…and demands more while also proposing new ways for savings in a virtual circle!
Cloud platforms also meter and report resource usage — from storage and processing to bandwidth and active users — making energy use visible, transparent, measurable, and easier to optimise. The way to go for accounting and accountability.
AI also drives efficiency gains
Despite ongoing debates about how to supply enough energy – and which types – for AI’s intensive running needs, AI agents can always help. As digital systems that autonomously perform tasks to achieve defined goals, they can collect data and optimise systems to save energy. And do it exponentially better if well trained.
A clear example is energy distribution – there is no energy transition without smart distribution! Non-generative AI-driven tools can optimise grid distribution by 40% to 100%. That was the promise and is now the reality of smart grids.
Real-time and smart metering, powered by IoT-AI integration, can use data-driven insights to optimise performance, and improve energy efficiency by up to 30%. These systemic optimisations ease energy flow and reduce pressure on the power generation infrastructure.
We can reimagine the broader infrastructure using the smart grid concept as an analogy or even as a digital twin. By doing so, transport and logistics, as well as manufacturing and general distribution, will all benefit from pro-efficiency AI-powered route or warehouse optimisations, which in turn become cross-industry energy savings and impact value creation.
And as new open-AI models will be trained at a fraction of the cost and energy compared to pioneer models, our drawing the line will be clearer and clearer, as that tech will require less power as we move along. As a case in point, DeepSeek’s R1 model achieved performance parity with top-tier AI systems while significantly reducing energy consumption.
With collaboration and sharing data for model training, we can use AI-led optimisation to create positive change. When technology drives energy efficiency and transparency, it drives sustainability, i.e. positive externalities and impact.
Edge computing reduces data transfer energy
Edge computing, a distributed computing framework, allows IoT devices to quickly process and act on data closer to its source. This reduces the need for energy-intensive data transfers to central cloud servers, cutting energy use by up to 80%.
For example, Verizon uses edge computing to support smart traffic management in cities. By processing traffic data locally, their system reduces latency, cuts back on energy use, and enables real-time decision-making – like dynamic traffic lights and emergency rerouting.
People and organisations power the shift. Building the future, not just talking about it
Technology alone won’t solve problems. To make real change, we need to rethink how we produce energy, design cities, and use resources. That means investing in people – training the next generation in sustainability, AI, IoT, and tech all together.
This calls for strong partnerships between schools, universities, and industry. Without skilled people, the tools we build won’t get used where they matter most.
Companies that lead with transparency, innovation, and education will shape the next economy. They’ll define success not just by profit – but by the positive impact they leave behind.
By using smart tools – AI, digital twins, automation, and real-time tracking – we can move from intention to action, and from action to positive outcomes. Very positive ones for all.
illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
