How to adjust video quality for more eco-friendly video calls

Video calls have become essential in our daily lives, whether for work, study, or simply staying in touch with loved ones. Remote communication – via video calls, phone calls, or emails – plays a key role in maintaining connections and exchanging information effectively, especially when working from home. However, few people realize that these virtual meetings have an environmental impact, particularly because of high-definition video, which is data- and energy-intensive. Lowering your camera quality for video calls is a simple step that helps reduce this carbon footprint while optimizing bandwidth. This guide walks you through how to reduce video quality on the main videoconferencing platforms, using tools such as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and others.

Why lower the video quality of your video calls?

A non-negligible carbon impact : High definition (HD) offers crystal-clear image quality but consumes a huge amount of data and energy. The higher the resolution, the greater the volume of data transferred. This transfer requires a large amount of energy for processing and storing the data, thereby increasing the carbon footprint of each call. Most video call platforms let you adjust video quality according to the user’s needs.

A multiplier effect : According to studies, an HD call can use up to ten times more data than a standard-quality video call. This means that if we all switch to a lower quality, the overall impact could be significant, especially in companies where online meetings are frequent.

Reducing environmental footprint and costs : In addition to lowering energy consumption, limiting video quality can also reduce your bandwidth usage, which is useful in low-speed areas or with unstable connections. It can also cut costs for users with capped or metered internet plans.

Lowering video quality vs turning off the camera: what impact for participants?

Lowering quality for moderate consumption : Reducing video quality without turning the camera off completely lets you use bandwidth more moderately while maintaining eye contact. This is ideal for meetings where visual contact matters but high resolution is not essential. For example, by switching from HD to standard quality, you can reduce data usage while keeping effective visual interaction.

When turning off the camera is the better option : Completely disabling your camera is recommended in large meetings with many participants where video isn’t necessary, or if your connection is very slow. This option saves even more resources, since no video data is transmitted. It’s ideal for team calls where discussions don’t require constantly seeing every participant. A word of caution: always double-check that your camera is really off to avoid embarrassing situations during these calls.

Balancing visuals and efficiency : By combining the use of standard video quality with turning off your camera when it isn’t essential, you can minimize data consumption while still optimizing interactions. For example, you can keep the camera on for introductions or active discussion, then turn it off during listening phases or when someone is sharing a presentation.

How to adjust video quality on each video call tool

Let’s now look at how to reduce video quality on the most commonly used videoconferencing tools so you can easily adopt this eco-friendly practice.

Each piece of software offers different features that let you adjust video quality according to users’ needs.

Google Meet: use the video quality adjustment feature in just a few clicks

Access the settings : Open Google Meet and join a meeting. Click the three dots at the bottom of the screen, then select “Settings”. Only people with an account or an invitation can access these video quality settings.

Adjust video quality : In the “Video” section, choose the “Standard” or “Low bandwidth” option to reduce data usage.

Tip : Using a lower video quality can also stabilize your connection, especially in areas where bandwidth is limited.

Microsoft Teams: lower the resolution for lighter video calls

Access Teams settings : Before joining a meeting, open Microsoft Teams and go to “Settings” via your profile picture.

Limit video quality : In the “Devices” section, check the video resolution and choose a lower quality. Teams often automatically adjusts quality based on your bandwidth, but turning off the camera is also a good option in large meetings.

Tips : During meetings, remember to turn off your camera when you’re not speaking to reduce resource consumption.

Zoom: switch to low-quality mode to save resources

Access user settings : Open Zoom and click “Settings” in the top right corner.

Disable HD : In the “Video” menu, uncheck “Enable HD” to reduce quality. This helps limit data usage while maintaining a good connection.

Advanced options for meetings : In “Advanced settings”, enable options that optimize bandwidth and video by reducing resource usage. In case of an unstable connection, Zoom also automatically adjusts the quality.

Webex: choose an appropriate resolution to limit your carbon footprint

Go to video settings : Log in to Webex and open the meeting “Preferences”.

Adjust camera quality : In the “Video” tab, choose a standard resolution instead of HD.

Additional tip : Turn off your camera in large meetings or during segments where you’re not actively participating.

Skype: configure video quality for professional calls

Access video settings : In Skype, go to “Settings” > “Audio & Video”.

Disable high definition : Uncheck “Enable HD” to limit quality. Skype uses fewer resources in standard mode.

Optimize bandwidth : Using standard video quality also improves connection stability.

Slack: limit video use for more eco-friendly meetings

Access video settings in Slack : Click “Settings” during a call.

Reduce video quality : Slack automatically adjusts video quality to preserve bandwidth, but it’s recommended to turn off video when it isn’t essential.

Usage tip : Using video only for short meetings or important discussions can help reduce the overall environmental impact.

Conclusion

By lowering the video quality of your calls, you can take a more responsible approach and reduce the carbon footprint of virtual meetings. This reduction in video quality is a simple and effective way to limit the carbon footprint linked to the use of video calls. By choosing a lower resolution, you help reduce data and energy consumption while keeping the connection smooth. Getting into the habit of switching to standard quality or turning off your camera when it isn’t needed is a small but effective step towards more sustainable use of videoconferencing.