July 31, 2024
4 min read
Jevons paradox and greening software—why increasing efficiency makes sense
I discuss the Jevons paradox in the context of software efficiency, questioning whether making software more efficient will lead to increased usage and emissions. I argue that, similar to how making food healthier doesn’t necessarily lead to overeating, making software with a low Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) score doesn’t inherently drive overconsumption.