Reducing Carbon Footprint by NOT Doing Cloud Backups
Cloud backups for family photos produce up to 500 kg CO₂ per TB per year. Jörg switched to Syncthing – an open-source sync tool that keeps data local. Here's how he set it up in under 20 minutes.
Syncthing: Local Photo Backup Without Cloud Storage Emissions
Cloud storage is convenient, but servers running 24/7 to store photos you access once a year don't add up environmentally. Cloud storage CO₂ footprint estimates range from 200–500 kg CO₂ per TB per year. A new HDD clocks in at ~200 kg – making local backup worth the effort.
Requirements
- Automatically sync new photos from phones to a local computer when switched on
- Deletions on the phone do NOT delete from the backup
- Deletions on the backup do NOT delete from the phone
The Solution: Syncthing
Syncthing is a free, open-source continuous file synchronisation tool. It works across devices and operating systems (PC, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux). Setup takes less than 20 minutes.
Note on iOS
As of 2024, syncing the iOS photo library is not possible due to Apple's sandboxing. A commercial app called Möbius Sync exists but has limitations.
Setup Overview
- Install Syncthing on all devices (PlayStore on Android; installer on Windows/macOS; package manager or Docker on Linux)
- Configure autostart
- Open the GUI at 127.0.0.1:8384, add devices, and share folders
- Set the sending device to Send Only and the backup device to Receive Only
- Enable Ignore Delete on the backup folder to prevent accidental deletions propagating
If you find Syncthing useful, consider donating to the project.