When you think of DevOps and DORA metrics, carbon footprint probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But during the Engineering Success Podcast, Nathan Harvey from Google shared an intriguing example of how DORA practices not only improve software delivery performance but can also have a significant impact on environmental sustainability.

How DORA Connects to Sustainability

Nathan highlighted a surprising way DORA principles can contribute to reducing a company’s carbon footprint:

"When teams improve their deployment frequency and re-architect their systems for smaller, more frequent changes, they’re not just improving speed,they’re also minimizing the attack surface of their applications. That optimization can lead to significant reductions in energy use."

By focusing on leaner architectures and faster iteration cycles, companies can reduce the computing resources needed for their applications, ultimately lowering their energy consumption and environmental impact.

The Uber Example

One of the standout stories Nathan shared was about Uber:

"Uber used DORA metrics and Google Cloud tools to optimize their deployment processes. Not only did they ship faster and improve security, but they also saw a measurable reduction in the carbon footprint of their services."

This was achieved by:

• Breaking down large, monolithic systems into smaller, modular components.
• Reducing the amount of over-provisioned resources.
• Streamlining deployment pipelines to minimize unnecessary resource usage.

Nathan explained:

"When you’re shipping smaller, more frequent changes, you’re reducing the overall compute power required to run and maintain systems. It’s a win-win for performance and sustainability."

What Startups and Enterprises Can Learn

Whether you’re a small team or a large enterprise, there are actionable takeaways from this approach:

• Embrace Modular Architectures: Breaking down large systems into smaller services reduces waste and improves efficiency.
• Monitor Resource Utilization: Use DORA metrics in conjunction with cloud tools to identify where resources are being overused.
• Iterate Faster: Smaller, faster deployments lead to better resource utilization and fewer idle systems.

Rishi, CTO of DevDynamics, reflected on how this mindset aligns with engineering values:

"Engineers often focus on scalability and reliability, but sustainability needs to become part of the conversation. DORA metrics give us a way to balance speed, quality, and environmental impact."

Key Takeaways

1. Small Changes Have Big Impacts: Incremental improvements to deployment frequency and architecture can reduce energy consumption.
2. Measure What Matters: Pairing DORA metrics with cloud monitoring tools helps teams identify areas for optimization.
3. Think Beyond Code: Engineering leaders need to see sustainability as a core metric alongside performance and reliability.

Reducing your carbon footprint might not seem like an obvious benefit of adopting DORA practices, but as Nathan said:

"When you focus on efficiency in delivery, sustainability follows naturally. It’s all about making smarter decisions for your systems and the planet."

For teams looking to make an impact beyond their codebase, integrating sustainability into your engineering goals is a step worth taking.