Abstract

BOSQUEZ-MESTANZA, Angelita Leonor et al. Assessing the digital carbon footprint of La María Campus at the Technical State University of Quevedo, Ecuador. e-Rev. Multidiscip. Saber [online]. 2025, vol.3, e-RMS04082025.  Epub Sep 23, 2025. ISSN 2960-2467.  https://doi.org/10.61286/e-rms.v3i.255.

The accelerated digital transformation has introduced a new dimension to environmental studies: the digital carbon footprint, defined as the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the daily use of Information and Communication Technologies. In this context, a study was conducted in 2023 at the La María Campus of the Technical State University of Quevedo, to assess the environmental impact of its digital ecosystem. A rigorous methodological approach was employed, including stratified surveys administered to students, faculty, and staff to characterize technology usage patterns. The findings revealed a high dependence on devices such as smartphones and routers-key contributors to emissions. To calculate the digital carbon footprint with precision, the certified tool from Öko-Institut e.V. was used, alongside advanced statistical analyses via SPSS software (version 25).The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test (p < 0.05; p = 1.2037 × 10⁻³⁹) indicated that the data did not follow a normal distribution, justifying the use of the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. The result (p = 0.502) supported the null hypothesis, concluding that there were no significant differences among faculties regarding the distribution of the digital carbon footprint. These findings provide valuable insights for designing institutional strategies aimed at digital sustainability in educational contexts.

Keywords : digitalization; information and communication technologies (ICT); carbon dioxide emissions; Öko-Institut e.V..

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