Demystifying tech for the climate sector

This blog aims to demystify some of the most relevant tech jargon in the software industry. Whether you're a business professional, a public sector employee, or simply curious about technology, gaining a basic understanding of these concepts can be valuable. We'll use Kausal as a practical example to see how climate work can be digitalized. By the end of this blog, you will have a clearer understanding of these terms and their significance in today's digital world.

From local servers to solar-powered clouds

To understand where it all began, we'll take a short recap in time. The digital transformation began around the mid-1940s to early 2000s and started to transform technology from analog to digital.

As computing evolved, we've seen a shift from traditional on-premises solutions to cloud computing services. In on-premises solutions, software is installed directly on your device, using local resources and storing data locally. Cloud computing, however, handles software and data storage remotely on the internet, allowing users to access and use resources without installing them on their own devices. You access programs through a web browser, with the software running on powerful servers in data centers - physical facilities housing the necessary equipment.

Think of it like renewable energy: instead of having your own solar panels on your roof (on-premises), you now participate in a community solar project (cloud computing). You can access clean energy anytime, from anywhere on the grid, without managing the entire solar infrastructure yourself. This is how cloud computing works, offering flexibility and shared resources for various applications.

Major cloud providers to know are AWS, Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud. At Kausal, we currently use Hetzner, an international cloud hosting provider whose servers are powered by renewable energy sources, specifically wind and hydropower.

Reshaping IT business for a brighter future

The evolution of cloud computing also revolutionized business models, offering companies unprecedented flexibility to adapt, scale, and reduce costs efficiently. Cloud technology enables businesses to swiftly respond to market changes through on-demand resources. As a result, various "as-a-Service" models have emerged, the most notable of these being Software as a Service (SaaS). This shift particularly benefits smaller companies, allowing them to innovate and expand without the burden of substantial upfront infrastructure investments.

Let's use Kausal as an example:

Kausal is a SaaS provider, offering innovative solutions for the public sector's sustainability efforts. But what does SaaS mean in practice? The Kausal Platform, provides tools for turning sustainability goals and key performance indicators into actionable plans. This digital platform includes a public interface for transparent reporting (see an example), an internal user interface for efficient management, and advanced scenario modeling capabilities (see an example).

All these applications are accessible via a web browser, eliminating the need for installation or maintenance on the user's end. This approach ensures that our clients always have access to the latest features and updates. The SaaS model offers significant advantages like easy access from any device, automatic updates without user intervention, and continuous development based on customer feedback. By leveraging the SaaS model, Kausal empowers public sector organizations to manage, communicate and monitor actionable climate and sustainability action plans efficiently and effectively.

The role of open-source in modern software development

As software business models evolved, so did the ways to develop and distribute software. To grasp this evolution, it's helpful to understand the basics of how software works. At its core, software is a set of instructions created by programmers. These instructions, written in code, tell computers what to do. This code, typically hidden from users, is called source code.

The distinction between closed and open source software is simple:

• Closed source: The software's code is private, with access and modifications limited to the original developers or authorized parties.

• Open source: The software's code is publicly accessible, allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute it freely.

What does it now mean for Kausal to be an open-source based provider?

As an open-source provider, Kausal embraces collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Our source code is freely accessible under the AGPLv3 license, allowing anyone to view, modify, and distribute it while ensuring modifications remain open.

This open-source approach prevents vendor lock-in, which means that users are not dependent on a single provider and can easily switch if needed. They can examine our software's inner workings, tailor it to their specific needs, and even maintain it independently if desired. Although the software is freely available, Kausal offers expert services for maintenance and ongoing development, allowing our public sector employees to concentrate on their climate work without worrying about technical details.

Our commitment to open-source aligns with Kausal's mission as an impact-first company: making climate software accessible to all. This model facilitates effective collaboration among cities and municipalities on climate initiatives, nurturing a community-driven approach to tackling environmental challenges.

We hope this overview has demystified some common tech terms - you don't need to be a tech expert to grasp these concepts. With this basic understanding, you're now better equipped to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape in both professional and personal contexts, particularly when engaging with climate tech and sustainable solutions!

Glossary

Cloud computing

Using internet-based services to access, store, and process data remotely, without installing software on your own device.

Data centers

Physical facilities housing many computers and networking equipment to store and manage vast amounts of data.

SaaS

Software as a Service describes a software that's accessed over the internet instead of being installed on your computer.

Source code

The set of instructions written by programmers that tell a computer program how to function.

Open source

Software whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute.

Vendor-Lock in

A situation where a customer becomes dependent on a specific provider's products or services and can't easily switch to another provider without substantial costs or inconvenience.