Rebeca Moen Sep 23, 2026 15:08
Over 1,000 GitHub users surveyed highlight the need for tools and best practices to reduce software’s environmental footprint.
Developers are increasingly focused on the environmental impact of their work, with 80% of surveyed GitHub users expressing interest in tools to write more energy-efficient code, according to new research conducted by GitHub and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. The study, which surveyed 1,039 GitHub users in the U.S., underscores the growing demand for sustainable software practices amid rising concerns about climate change and AI’s energy consumption.
The survey reveals a clear appetite for actionable solutions: 78% of respondents want best practices to reduce software’s environmental footprint, while 74% seek methods to measure the impact of their code or development processes. Developers also showed interest in contributing to open-source sustainability projects, with 70% expressing willingness to participate.
Developers’ Climate and AI Concerns
Nearly 79% of those surveyed are worried about global warming, and 71% flagged concerns about the environmental impact of AI systems, including energy and water use as well as carbon emissions. This aligns with broader industry data showing the environmental toll of AI infrastructure. Recent disclosures from tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have revealed rising emissions and water consumption tied to AI expansion, highlighting the urgency of addressing these issues at both the software and hardware levels.
While developers recognize the importance of reducing waste, only 10% believe their current practices have a significant impact on their personal environmental footprint. The gap lies in the lack of practical tools and clear metrics to guide efficiency improvements, a need highlighted in the survey’s open-ended responses.
Where Efficiency Improvements Matter
GitHub’s findings suggest that developers can make immediate strides by addressing inefficiencies in four key areas:
- Code: Optimize algorithms, reduce repeated computations, and use caching effectively.
- Data: Minimize over-fetching, improve query efficiency, and batch database calls.
- Network and I/O: Eliminate duplicate requests, use event-driven polling, and enable compression.
- Frontend performance: Avoid unnecessary rendering and use smaller asset formats.
However, making these changes requires credible measurements. Developers need tools that go beyond runtime metrics to consider factors like hardware efficiency, workload, and electricity sources. GitHub’s Daily Efficiency Improver workflow is one such tool, automating the process of identifying inefficiencies and suggesting measurable fixes. The workflow generates draft pull requests, giving maintainers the final say on implementation.
Broader Context: Software’s Environmental Impact
Software engineering’s environmental footprint is part of a larger ecosystem. Data centers—which power everything from CI/CD pipelines to AI training—used approximately 415 TWh of electricity in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. This accounted for 1.5% of global electricity demand, with the U.S. leading consumption at 45%. Projections suggest this could rise to over 800 TWh by 2026 as AI and cloud adoption accelerate.
While more efficient software can reduce energy usage per task, the overall demand is expected to grow faster than these gains, driven by expanding AI workloads and hyperscale cloud infrastructure. This makes it critical for developers to prioritize energy-efficient practices alongside broader systemic changes like carbon-aware scheduling and improved hardware utilization.
Actionable Next Steps
The GitHub survey provides a roadmap for developers and organizations looking to incorporate sustainability into their workflows. Start by identifying measurable inefficiencies in existing processes, use tools like GitHub’s Daily Efficiency Improver to automate analysis, and back every optimization with transparent metrics. For organizations, integrating these practices into standard engineering workflows can help address the demand for greener software while also reducing costs and improving performance.
As the software industry grapples with the dual pressures of rising AI demand and environmental responsibility, tools and best practices that empower developers to create more efficient systems could play a pivotal role in achieving a more sustainable future.
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