Microsoft recently released the first Feature Update for Windows 11, Windows 11 version 22H2. In this new update, Microsoft added a lot of improvements and new features. Now, Microsoft is targetting to make Windows 11 to reduce carbon emissions in order to decrease the carbon footprints. According to Microsoft, Windows Update is now carbon aware in Windows 11.
Windows Update is now carbon aware in Windows 11
Microsoft already made a lot of improvements in Windows 11 Update version 22H2, like reducing the download size and installation time of feature updates and cumulative updates. One of these improvements is making Windows 11 OS carbon aware in order to reduce carbon emissions of users’ devices.
In a blog post, Microsoft says:
When devices are plugged in, turned on, connected to the internet and regional carbon intensity data is available, Windows Update will schedule installations at specific times of the day (when doing so may result in lower-carbon emissions because a higher proportion of electricity is coming from lower-carbon sources on the electric grid).
Apart from Windows Update, Microsoft has also made changes in Windows 11 Settings to reduce the carbon emissions of users’ devices. When electronic devices are powered on, they use energy, which results in carbon emissions. Electronic devices continue to use power in the ideal state. To contribute to a sustainable and greener environment, Microsoft has updated the power settings that will put users’ devices in a low-power state when they are not using them.
You can configure Sustainable Power efficient settings in Windows 11 via the Settings app. In Windows 11 update version 22H2, updates will install at the time when reducing carbon emissions is possible. However, users can always bypass this function and choose to install updates immediately by opening the Windows Update page in Windows 11 Settings.
If this feature is active on your device, you will see the following message on the Windows Update page in Windows 11 Settings:
Windows Update is committed to helping reduce carbon emissions.
Making Windows Update carbon aware is a great step by Microsft towards a sustainable and greener environment.
