At a Glance: As 2025 begins, Mr Suricate more eco-friendly practices for automated testing. This guide covers: Introduction:, Analysis of the Environmental Impacts of New Technologies, Green IT and RGESN: A Solution to Implement.
1. Introduction:
As 2025 begins, Mr Suricate more eco-friendly practices for automated testing. Indeed, protecting the environment is a priority for everyone in every field, so it’s only natural to ask: what about the world of automated testing? How can we ensure that automated testing—as well as web development—is more respectful of the resources available on our blue planet?
To answer this question: Marc Hage Chahine, QA Practice Manager at K-LAGAN. As the author of the blog“La Taverne du Testeur” (which we strongly encourage you to read) and a regular at JFTL, Marc aims to develop a qualitative approach to testing, naturally taking into account sustainable quality and Green IT.
So let's address this pressing question: What are the impacts of automation?
2. Analysis of the Environmental Impacts of New Technologies
First of all, it’s important to note that Green IT isn’t just a concept related to the environment per se; it encompasses everything related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, thereby taking into account the impact of the design and use of new technologies.
Marc thus reminds us of anADEME study, published in January 2025, which states: “117 million metric tons of resources are used each year to produce and use digital devices—that is, 1.7 metric tons per French person per year”—a trend that is rising sharply.
According to the same report, the manufacturing phase accounts for the majority of environmental impacts, representing 60% of the carbon footprint, while the use phase accounts for around 40%. It should be noted that this latter figure has been trending upward since the recent widespread adoption of artificial intelligence.
According to a study published by the U.S. Department of Energy and conducted by Berkeley Lab, in three years, data centers could account for 6.7% to 12% of total electricity consumption in the United States. Between 2017 and 2023, electricity demand from data centers more than doubled as more AI-dedicated servers were deployed.
Of course, we certainly don't want to overreact or simply accept this situation. The solution? Optimization!
Today, the goal for everyone should be to maximize efficiency, avoid overconsumption, and, in doing so, reduce each person’s environmental impact. As Marc explained so well, “We’ve become accustomed to living by Moore’s Law—with ever-more-powerful devices, with the idea that we can always do more, with ever-better graphics, ever-faster and more efficient performance—and to living in this abundance, in this illusion of infinity.”
Understanding its impact also means understanding that “always more” is synonymous with overconsumption. AI is an excellent example of this. If it isn’t implemented properly—if we develop AI simply because we want to—it can be destructive to the environment. If you’re tempted to develop AI, it’s important to ask yourself: Does what I want to do already exist in another form that consumes fewer resources?
Is the use of AI really necessary in this case? AI is very similar to automated testing in this regard, even though the latter is less resource-intensive. For a more detailed look at this topic, feel free to read theAFNOR guideline, which aims to measure and identify ways to reduce the environmental impact of AI.
Question from a website user:
Can an AI system that uses resources in a way that focuses strictly on what is necessary—as Chinese and French AI systems do—significantly minimize resource usage?
For Marc, this type of AI does indeed allow us to do less, so we need to reconsider whether it’s necessary. As explained above, if a simple Google search is enough to meet a need, AI may not be necessary (a Google search will always consume fewer resources than a search using an AI like ChatGPT). SLMs (short language models)—models specialized in a specific subject, unlike other general-purpose models—can be viable solutions.
To illustrate this difference, imagine that these models are athletes: one specializes in the 100-meter dash, while the other is more of a decathlete. If we ask both to run 100 meters, the first will have the advantage. On the other hand, if we ask both to compete in the hurdles, javelin, and shot put, the second will have the advantage, but will need much more energy.
So, the key takeaway is that you have to know how to make choices.
3. Green IT and RGESN: A Solution to Be Implemented
So, to sum it up, Green IT is about the environment, people, and, therefore, sustainability. For more details, feel free to visit La Taverne Du Testeur, which regularly covers this topic.
We can then focus on the RGESN, the general eco-design framework for digital services. The goal, once again, is to limit its impact. The RGESN will take into account both tangible and intangible aspects—including design. This framework is thus based on the following nine themes:
- The Strategy
- Specifications
- Architecture
- UX/UI
- Content
- The front end
- The backend
- Accommodations
- The Algorithm
This framework helps us consider a wide range of uses and shows how we can actually reduce our carbon footprint. Take cell phones, for example. Today, we’re used to replacing our phones after two and a half years—or even three years—of use, compared to 18 months just a few years ago. However, that’s not enough; we should keep our devices for at least five years.
But why do we change phones so often? Marc tells us about three main reasons:
- A battery that no longer lasts long enough: – a problem often linked to the use of power-hungry apps that damage the battery, as well as users’ poor charging habits. One way to mitigate this problem would therefore be to use apps that consume less battery power, thereby reducing the need to charge the device.
- A desire for something new: it’s becoming increasingly rare for us to replace our phones simply because they no longer work. Whether it’s a habit of following trends or the release of a revolutionary new model, any excuse will do; even though this is a topic of debate in its own right, we must still ask ourselves whether frequent upgrades are really necessary.
- Apps that no longer work: The desire for a change isn’t the only reason to switch phones when the one you already own still works; it often happens that our favorite apps stop working or become increasingly slow, making the user experience less enjoyable. It’s therefore essential to continue optimizing apps so they work on operating systems that are starting to show their age.
The RGESN is also about considering the servers we use; Marc, for example, tells us about his experience with his blog. With servers in the United States, *La Taverne du Testeur* didn’t have the greenest servers it could have had; the best option would be to have servers as close as possible, ideally powered by renewable energy.
According to ADEME, the environmental impact is divided among end devices (50%), data centers (46%), and the network (4%). When we talk about data centers, we’re naturally focusing on the storage of our applications and their actual needs. After all, storing 10 terabytes of data versus just 1 terabyte does not have the same environmental impact.
4. Mr Suricate 's Role Mr Suricate Green IT
Mr Suricate is a no-code automated testing solution. We primarily work with large enterprises and position ourselves as a one-stop-shop for testing, meaning we are able to perform both production monitoring as well as bug detection in a test environment.
We also offer load testing, which provide KPIs on route performance as well as analyses of safety practices. In addition, we incorporate analytical data testing, digital accessibility testing, and Green IT assessments.
As for the Green IT dashboard, it allows us to evaluate Mr Suricate score Mr Suricate the EcoIndex, a key environmental performance indicator. We are currently working to optimize our websitein order to improve this score. Among the data collected, we are analyzing, in particular, the number of requestsand the complexity of the DOM, the latter being a key factor in the EcoIndex: the more complex a DOM is, the harder it is to render, and therefore the more energy it consumes.
At the same time, we worked with the K-LAGAN team of experts to develop a report specifically for the RGESN (General Eco-design Framework for Digital Services), based onthe ENVI Score.
Whilethe EcoIndex analyzes the impact of use, the RGESN focuses on design. Having both of these indicatorsallows for a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis.
The RGESN is based on several criteria, such as architecture, content, UX/UI, and so on. An average of these scores is calculated to determinethe ENVI Score, which serves as a comprehensive audit. Its resultshelp identify areas for improvement and formulate appropriate recommendations.
This project is a joint development effort with K-LAGAN. We have established the KPIs, which are integrated with the Green IT component, and K-LAGAN conducts periodic auditsto update your report, which is accessible directly from your Mr Suricate account.
Further Reading
