Xiaoqing (Estelle) Ye, MS ‘24 Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carbon Analyst Intern, CarbonSense Technologies
Host Organization and My Role
My name is Xiaoqing Ye, a second year MS student in environmental engineering. This summer, I'm a Carbon Analyst Intern at CarbonSense Technologies, a pioneering firm dedicated to helping organizations achieve carbon neutrality through advanced carbon accounting and sustainability services. My primary responsibilities include business strategy and client development, calculating corporate and product carbon footprints, assisting clients in identifying carbon hotspots, and developing reduction strategies. This involves not only technical calculations but also strategic consultations to help clients align their sustainability goals with practical actions.
A Typical Day
I work remotely, as does the rest of the company. My daily routine starts with a 10-minute meeting with my advisor to discuss updates and newly assigned tasks. These brief but focused meetings set the tone for the day and ensure that I am aligned with the team’s objectives. My work consists of meeting with potential clients in sustainability positions from various tech companies, including industry giants like Google, Meta, and Nvidia. These meetings aim to identify the pain points of current AI models in terms of their CO2 emissions and environmental impact. I summarize their insights and combine them with the latest research and reports to provide a comprehensive view of the current challenges and potential solutions in the field of sustainable AI.
Sustainable AI White Paper Project
The project I am currently participating in involves writing a white paper on the future sustainability of data centers and AI. This white paper aims to address the environmental impacts of AI and data centers from a political, economic, and technological perspective. Working on this project has been both challenging and rewarding. It involves a thorough review of existing literature, collaboration with academic and industry experts, and the development of new methodologies for assessing and reducing carbon emissions. My role in this project includes coordinating with professors and other stakeholders to gather insights and data, analyzing the environmental impact of AI models and data centers, and drafting sections of the white paper. Strategic thinking to develop metrics and indices for AI and data centers that could become standards for tech companies to track related emissions and evaluate environmental impact has been a crucial part of this project.
Insights Gained and Conclusion
My involvement in the white paper project and daily work has provided me with deep insights into the multifaceted challenges and opportunities associated with decarbonizing data centers and AI technologies, particularly focusing on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies for AI Large Language Models (LLMs), including scope definition, data collection and inventory analysis, and impact categories and indicators, and the carbon emissions associated with training these models.
It is also encouraging to see legislative efforts in the U.S., like the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024, which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop standards to measure AI's environmental impacts and create a voluntary reporting framework for AI developers. I am excited to continue contributing to our efforts in promoting a greener future through sustainable AI practices.
