Real-Time Carbon Footprint Calculation for Household ICT Devices

Abstract

This research addresses the growing concern of carbon emissions originating from the operational use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices. While the overall environmental impact of ICT is well-documented, a significant gap exists in providing end-users with accessible, real-time feedback on their device-specific operational emissions. This paper proposes a novel, non-invasive framework for the real-time monitoring and calculation of carbon emissions from individual ICT devices. The methodology involves a carefully selected hardware interface—a commercially available smart plug with a local API—to acquire granular power consumption data without compromising user privacy. This data is processed by a backend system which applies a regional carbon intensity factor to convert energy usage (kWh) into carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. The results are then transmitted to a web-based frontend, providing users with an intuitive, real-time visualization of their carbon footprint. A comparative analysis of available hardware justifies the selection of the TP-Link Tapo P110 for its optimal balance of local API accessibility, low integration complexity, and cost-effectiveness. The developed framework demonstrates the feasibility of creating an accessible tool to foster energy-conscious behavior and promote sustainable computing habits by making the invisible environmental impact of ICT usage visible.