AI is transforming industries – but at what cost?
Your company might be exploring AI: chatbots, automated data analysis, or enhancing customer experience. But one question often goes unasked:
Where does your AI run?
It can impact your environmental footprint just as much as switching your entire company fleet to electric vehicles.
AI offers tremendous opportunities for growth—but it also consumes huge amounts of energy, sometimes equal to what hundreds of households use in a year. What many businesses don’t realize is this: the region where your AI runs directly affects your carbon footprint and costs.
Azure region choice: Up to 75% emission reduction
Microsoft Azure operates data centers across six continents, each powered by different energy mixes. Choosing the right Azure region can:
- reduce the carbon emissions of your AI project by up to 75%,
- lower operational costs long-term,
- prepare you for ESG compliance and regulations.
Every Azure region has a unique energy profile:
- Nordic regions (Norway, Sweden): run almost entirely on hydro and wind power – close to zero carbon emissions.
- Western Europe (Netherlands, Ireland): increasingly use renewables, with a balance of sustainability and low-latency access in the EU.
- Traditional energy regions (some parts of Asia and North America): still depend on fossil fuels, although transitions are underway.
The difference? Up to 10x more CO₂ emissions depending on the region. A Hungarian business running AI-based customer service can reduce emissions significantly by choosing Norway—without any real performance loss.
Microsoft’s green commitment: Going beyond neutrality
Microsoft is taking real, measurable action:
- Carbon negative by 2030 – they plan to remove more CO₂ than they emit.
- 100% renewable energy for all Azure operations, with massive investments in wind, solar, and energy storage.
- Historical offset – removing all carbon emitted since 1975.
- Emission Impact Dashboard – real-time cloud emissions tracking for ESG and sustainability reporting.
Azure gives you control to choose greener regions without sacrificing performance, scalability, or reliability.
What does this mean for your business?
Take a mid-sized Hungarian manufacturing company using AI for predictive maintenance.
By deploying AI workloads in Azure Norway rather than a fossil-fuel-powered region:
- Environmental Impact: Up to 75% CO₂ reduction
- Operational Cost: Lower long-term expenses
- Compliance Readiness: Get ahead of EU ESG regulations
- Brand Value: Show commitment to sustainability to clients and partners
Latency? Minimal. European users experience no noticeable delay.
Gloster Cloud: Helping Hungarian businesses build sustainable AI
As a Microsoft Solution Partner, Gloster Cloud believes sustainability should enhance, not complicate your cloud strategy.
We help you:
- Plan for sustainability: Match workloads to green Azure regions based on performance, compliance, and cost goals.
- Design efficient AI architectures: Optimize models and scaling for energy savings.
- Choose the right Azure region: Leverage our deep knowledge of Azure’s global infrastructure.
- Report & monitor: Track your environmental impact for ESG compliance.
- Stay future-ready: Adapt as Microsoft launches new sustainability tools and green infrastructure.
Why now?
Digital sustainability is not optional—it’s a business imperative.
- EU ESG regulations are expanding.
- Buyers care about environmental responsibility.
- Renewable regions offer better cost predictability.
- Top talent prefers employers with green values.
- Climate risk can affect future operations and taxes.
Ready to build sustainable AI?
The future of AI is green—and the best time to act is now.
Every day you wait is a missed opportunity to protect the planet and your business. Digital sustainability is your responsibility and competitive edge.
👉 Contact Gloster Cloud today to start building AI that’s smart and sustainable.
