AI Footprint™

What does your AI use really cost the planet?

Skip the scary headlines. Get a clear estimate of the energy, water and carbon behind your AI use in seconds.

Action

Describe any AI task in your own words. We estimate its footprint for you.

Estimate My AI Action

Prompt

See what your everyday AI prompts add up to.

Check My Prompts

Making images, video or audio? Estimate an asset instead

Did You Know?

Latest 2025 disclosures: ~0.3 Wh per AI text query. That's 10× more efficient than 2023 estimates. See the methodology.

Scale reference: ~50 typical AI prompts use the same electricity as one smartphone charge (15 Wh).

Your AI footprint depends on three things: model size, task type, and data centre location. The calculator estimates all three.

Figures from first-party 2025-26 disclosures and the sourced references in the "Understanding AI's Environmental Footprint" section below.

Beyond AI Usage: Data Centre Sustainability

This calculator shows you your AI usage impact (demand side). But your data centre's actual carbon intensity, water use, and grid location matter just as much. Meet the Data Centre Register, Australia's governed supply-side facility dataset.

Demand Side

What you're using: per-query AI impact across models and task types.

  • →Your prompt's energy footprint
  • →Water intensity per query
  • →Carbon based on grid location
  • →Hardware lifecycle impact
Supply Side

Where it's hosted: facility-level data across Australian data centres.

  • →Facility energy capacity & PUE
  • →Water stress & cooling systems
  • →Grid carbon intensity by state
  • →Published lifecycle & provenance

Water Varies 9×

Cooling needs range from 0.2–1.8 L/kWh across Australia. Location is destiny.

Carbon Varies 4×

Tasmania's grid is 200 kg CO₂e/MWh. Victoria's is 780. Same query, different impact.

First Public Register

Provenance, confidence tier, and freshness on every facility. No guessing.

Are you a data centre operator measuring your ESG footprint? Interested in seeing where Australian facilities sit on the grid? Researchers mapping water stress or emissions?

Explore the Data Centre RegisterHow grid location affects your AI impact
Understanding AI's Environmental Footprint
Learn how generative AI affects our planet, based on the best available first-party disclosures.

Tips for Sustainable AI Usage
Now that you understand what drives AI's environmental impact, here's how to reduce it. These strategies work across all AI tools and use cases.

  • Optimise Your Prompts

    Write clear, concise prompts to get the information you need with fewer iterations, reducing computational load.

  • Choose Smaller Models When Possible

    For simpler tasks, smaller, more efficient models can be just as effective whilst using fewer resources.

  • Be Mindful of Task Intensity

    Text generation typically uses far less energy than generating images or videos. Use intensive tasks judiciously.

  • Consider Location & Provider

    Support AI services hosted in regions with cleaner energy grids and by companies committed to renewable energy.

  • Minimise Redundant Usage

    Avoid unnecessary AI interactions. Think if the task truly requires AI or if a simpler tool would suffice.