Are you aware? You are also responsible for Climate Change and CO? Emissions!

As an internet user, we all are contributing to climate change. Especially the use of websites and social media.?

The internet may seem like a weightless world, but behind the scenes, the internet consumes a surprising amount of energy.? The ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector, which includes the internet, is responsible for an estimated 2-3.5% of global CO2 emissions – that’s on par with the aviation industry's global emissions!?

As IT professionals, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of technology. But what if, we could push those boundaries even better by considering and minimising environmental footprint???

In this post, we’ll dive into?

• The impact of websites on climate change?

• Factors contributing to website CO2 Emissions?

• Strategies that can be adopted by all common users to reduce CO2 emissions.?

• Strategies for designing and developing eco-friendly websites?

• Resources to help you get started. (for designers and developers)?

?

Websites Carbon Emissions:??

According to global statistical data, the global average size of a website is 2.5 – 3 MB in 2024. Here is a breakdown of what all are the components of such an average website.?

The average web page size has ballooned from 810 KB to 2.5 MB over the past decade, leading to higher data transfer requirements and increased energy consumption. An average website produces about 0.81 grams of CO2 per page view. For a site with 10,000 monthly page views, this results in approximately 102 kg of CO2 annually. However, a low-carbon website can significantly reduce this footprint, aiming for less than 0.5 grams of CO2 per page load.?

Here's a breakdown of the main contributors behind website CO2 emissions:?

• Data Centres: As the data grows, so do the data centres. Massive warehouses are needed for these servers, that power the internet. Keeping them operational and cooling requires a lot of energy. By 2026, the energy consumption of data centres is expected to rise to 1,000 TWh, and by 2030, it is projected to reach 2,500 TWh which is equivalent to powering 2 billion houses??

• Data Transfer: The movement of data across networks contributes to energy use. The larger the website, the more data needs to be transferred.?

• Website Design and Development: Inefficient code leads to higher loading time and performance lag, high-resolution media, and unnecessary features all increase high processing time which in turn to high energy consumption.?

• User Devices: The laptops, tablets, and smartphones we use to access websites that are powered by electricity also add to the overall carbon footprint.?

• Geographical Location: The distance between users and servers affects data transfer efficiency.?

User Activities Contributing to CO2 Emissions:?

• Google Searches: One search produces around 0.2 grams of CO2.?

• Streaming Video: Watching an hour of HD video can emit around 55 grams of CO2.?

• Email: While generally low-impact, emails with large attachments or frequent checking can increase emissions.?

• Web Browsing: The complexity of websites, particularly those with high-resolution images and videos, contributes to higher emissions.?

• Video Meetings: These emit almost 25 times more CO2 than audio calls.?

Interested in Reducing our Carbon Footprint...!

Simple Steps for Everyone:?

Optimize Email Usage:?

• Limit Large Attachments: Compress files or use file-sharing services for large attachments.?
• Clean Up Your Inbox: Regularly delete unnecessary emails.?
• Unsubscribe from Unwanted Newsletters: Reduce stored and processed emails.?

Smart Web Browsing:?

• Close Unused Tabs: Save energy by closing tabs you're not using.?
• Use Bookmarks: Save your favorite sites to reduce repeated searches.?
• Clear Cache and Cookies: Improve performance by clearing browser data.?

Efficient Streaming and Media Consumption:?

• Reduce Streaming Quality: Lower video quality when possible.?
• Download Instead of Streaming: Save frequently watched videos.?
• Turn Off Autoplay: Prevent unnecessary streaming.?

Mindful Device Usage:?

• Energy-Efficient Devices: Choose devices with high Energy Star ratings.?

• Turn Off Devices: Shut down or unplug devices when not in use.?

• Use Power Saving Modes: Enable power-saving settings.?

Digital File Management:?

• Regularly Clean Up Files: Delete unnecessary files and photos.?

• Use Cloud Storage Wisely: Store only necessary files in the cloud.?

• Printing on Demand: Print website content only when necessary.?

Eco-Friendly Online Meetings:?

• Prefer Audio Calls: Choose audio over video calls when possible.?

• Limit Meeting Duration: Keep online meetings concise.?

Educate and Advocate:?

• Spread Awareness: Educate peers about reducing digital carbon footprints.?

• Support Sustainable Policies: Advocate for green policies in your organization.?

Strategies for IT Professionals.?

To design eco-friendly digital solutions, consider the following strategies:?

1. Optimize Website Design:?

• Reduce Images and Videos: Optimize media for web use, consider alternatives like vector graphics, and use lazy loading to load content only when needed.?

• Responsive Design: Ensure your website adapts to various screen sizes, reducing the need for multiple versions.?

2. Improve Infrastructure:?

• Green Hosting: Choose hosting providers that use renewable energy sources. The Green Web Foundation tracks and lists green hosting providers.?

• Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Use CDNs to serve content closer to users, reducing data travel distance and improving load times.?

• Server Caching: Implement server caching to reduce processing for dynamically generated pages.?

3. Enhance User Experience:?

• SEO and Copywriting: Effective SEO and clear, concise copywriting reduce user browsing time and the number of pages visited.?

• Mobile First Approach: Design for mobile screens first and then enhance for desktop versions.?

4. Improve Coding:?

• Minimize File Sizes: Compress images and use modern formats like WebP.?

• Reduce HTTP Requests: Use techniques like CSS sprites to combine multiple images.?

• Implement Lazy Loading: Load resources only when needed.?

• Leverage Caching: Minimize server requests by caching frequently accessed resources.?

• Efficient Algorithms: Reduce processing time with optimized algorithms.?

• Optimised Coding: Use semantic HTML, minimize CSS and JavaScript files, and avoid unnecessary HTML element nesting.?

5. Consider Power Sourcing and Device Lifespan:?

• Renewable Energy: Ensure the electricity powering your applications comes from renewable sources.?

• Device Lifespan: Plan for the longevity and proper disposal of devices and products.?

Resources for Sustainable Web Design?

There are many resources available to help you build and maintain eco-friendly websites. Here are a few to get you started:?

• Sustainable Web Design: https://sustainablewebdesign.org/ (Guidelines for sustainable web development)?

• Website Carbon Calculator: https://www.websitecarbon.com/ (Estimate your website's CO2 emissions)?

• Ecograder: https://ecograder.com/ (Estimate your website's CO2 emissions)?

• The Green Web Foundation: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/ (Find green hosting providers)???

Conclusion?

As we continue to expand our digital presence, it's essential to adopt sustainable web practices to reduce our carbon footprint. By optimizing website design, improving infrastructure, enhancing user experience, and considering the power sources and lifespan of devices, we can make significant strides toward a greener internet. So, it is better to consider the Carbon emission of the website during development itself rather than checking the emission level when live. For general consideration, a webpage with carbon emissions below 0.5 grams can be considered as a good balanced page.?