Sustainable Software Architecture for green IT

In this practice-oriented module, participants learn how software architecture and software development can contribute specifically to the sustainability of IT systems. From analyzing regulatory frameworks and assessing carbon footprints to energy-efficient architectures, data processing, and algorithms, the training provides comprehensive knowledge for implementing resource-efficient software solutions, including sustainable cloud strategies and optimized development processes.

What can you expect?

You will gain in-depth knowledge of how software architecture can contribute to reducing energy consumption – from a technical, organizational, and professional perspective. The focus is on the role of IT in the climate context, regulatory requirements, stakeholder perspectives, and specific areas of action within the company. In addition, you will learn how to measure and monitor emissions, apply energy-efficient architecture concepts, and make sustainable decisions in the cloud and development environment.

Participant Requirements

➤ Experience in the design and development of small to medium-sized software systems is required.
➤ Practical experience in monitoring software systems is an advantage.
➤ Confident handling of quality requirements is essential.
➤ Knowledge of the life cycle of software systems is expected.
➤ Practical programming experience is helpful and rounds off the profile.

Technical Requirements

There are no special requirements for the training environment, as the exercises take place using cloud- and web-based tools such as Miro, Draw.io, and platforms such as Jupyter or HuggingFace. All you need is a stable and sufficiently fast internet connection.

Your Added Value

➤ You actively reduce the carbon footprint of your software.
➤ You make sustainable architecture decisions.
➤ You learn about green software in the context of current regulations.
➤ You use cloud technologies for greater energy efficiency.
➤ You become a driver of sustainable IT innovation.

Training Content in Detail

✔️ Climate change and digitalization
➤ Understanding the global challenges of climate change
➤ Rising energy demand in IT & the importance of resource efficiency
➤ Potential savings through digitalization in various sectors
➤ Difference: savings through IT vs. savings in IT

✔️ Regulations and standards
➤ Important certifications (e.g., Blue Angel, TCO) and laws (CSRD, ESG)
➤ Understanding and applying the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (scopes)
➤ Anchoring sustainability as a strategic field of action within the company ➤ Recognizing the requirements of various stakeholders with regard to green IT

✔️ Quality management and energy efficiency
➤ Quality models (e.g., ISO 25010) and their relevance to energy efficiency
➤ Formulating quality scenarios for energy-efficient software
➤ Understanding the interactions between energy efficiency and other quality attributessoftware
➤ Understand the interactions between energy efficiency and other quality attributes

✔️ Measure and monitor energy consumption
➤ Use metrics such as Software Carbon Intensity (SCI)
➤ Know measurement methods and tools (hardware measurements, full stack, cloud tools)
➤ Planning scenarios for energy consumption measurement and interpreting measurements
➤ Integrating measurements into development processes (CI/CD)

✔️ Software development and energy efficiency
➤ Influence of programming languages and compilation methods (AOT vs. JIT)
➤ Energy-efficient data handling and selection of suitable data structures
➤ Optimizing algorithms and using caches for reduce energy consumption

✔️ Software architecture for green IT
➤ Evaluate architecture styles (monolith, microservices, serverless) and their energy efficiency
➤ Types of communication (synchronous/asynchronous, protocols) and their influence
➤ Selecting energy-efficient databases and service models
➤ Using green IT patterns such as time and location shifting

✔️ Operation and cloud energy efficiency
➤ Understanding energy metrics for data centers (PUE, SIEC)
➤ Assess cloud service and deployment models in terms of energy efficiency
➤ Select providers based on sustainability criteria
➤ Optimize operations: Avoid overprovisioning, automation, CO2 optimization in the cloud

✔️ Energy-efficient development processes
➤ Understand CI/CD processes and their resource requirements
➤ Optimization of build and test processes (peak shaving, time shifting)
➤ Efficient infrastructure through containers, caching, and appropriate resilience
➤ Design resource-saving test strategies

Your benefits at a glance

➤ Sustainable cost savings: Energy-efficient software and infrastructure significantly reduce ongoing operating costs.
➤ Improved environmental balance: Reduced CO2 emissions strengthen your company’s image and comply with regulatory requirements.
➤ Higher system performance: Optimized architectures and processes result in faster and more stable software.