It is a debate and issue that you can be certain will not go away - the cost to the environment using Google to search for all those answers (a process we take for granted), as well as the bigger question about the carbon footprint caused by the business of IT.

When it seems clear that two Google searches can generate the same amount of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas as boiling a kettle, it's time to look carefully at the use of computing. Read more in the BBC 'Google carbon cost' story or watch details here about this worrying matter:

YouTube video - Impact of Google searches on the environment

What do you think about the environmental impact of Google and IT? Absurd or highly relevant in today's green-conscious world? Fuse would like to hear your views about this issue - we can see it becoming a big one in the months and years ahead.

Fuse reckons it might one day be compulsory to use search engine optimisation (SEO) to best build eco-friendly websites. Sound a little extreme, you might think? Well, if it takes several searches to find information via a search engine, this causes more CO2 to be produced. An SEO-optimised site that ensures answers can be found more quickly by efficient searching will keep down the 'green' cost of IT.

Mark our words well - SEO might help save the planet!