How to make your website environmentally sustainable
The internet has become an integral part of modern life, but it's essential to recognise that it also has an environmental impact. In 2018, a study by The Shift Project estimated that the Internet is to be responsible for approximately 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This is similar to the carbon footprint of the aviation industry. Streaming video emissions alone was responsible for 300 million tons of CO2 in 2019 according to the UK Royal Society.
Determining your digital carbon footprint can be challenging without little research but this guide is here to help identify where your website currently sits and how to optimise its sustainability.
How do you know if your website is eco-friendly?
I’d recommend sites like Website Carbon Calculator which estimates your site’s footprint. For example, I tested Website Builder Expert and discovered that my old homepage needed some work than other web pages tested, with 0.13g of CO2 produced whenever someone visits the page. Of course, I have additional pages that also consume energy, especially portfolio pages but it at least gives you a base idea. I will admit that I am right now in talks with Squarespace to understand how they’re working towards going green as per their announcement in March 2023.
Additionally, you can see how “green” your site is with The Green Web Foundation – a project working towards a fossil-free internet by 2030. If you aren’t already using renewable energy sources, I’ll get into more detail on why that’s important below.
Choose a green web hosting provider:
The first step in building an eco-friendly website is to opt for a green web hosting provider. The problem with this is that data centers use a ton of electricity, and generate a lot of heat, meaning they rely on energy-sucking cooling systems to prevent the servers from overheating. And, as of 2022, there were 2,701 data centers in the US alone! These providers use renewable energy sources or have energy-efficient data centers. By making this choice, you can significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with your website's hosting. With green web hosting still finding its feet, it can be rather challenging to find a host that uses renewable energy. Unfortunately, many hosting companies don’t run their data centers. This means hosts have less control over how the servers are operated. There is a way around though. Simply look for a hosting provider that’s partnered with Google Cloud Platform (GCP), such as CloudFlare. Google aims higher than simply being carbon neutral. Their goal is to run carbon-free all the time at all data centers by 2030. Using a host paired with GCP will bring you closer to creating a sustainable website.
Some other green hosting options are:
Optimise website performance:
An efficiently performing website not only enhances user experience but also reduces energy consumption. Start by compressing and optimising images, leveraging browser caching, and minifying code. Faster loading times translate to reduced server requests and a greener website.
Embrace a minimalistic design:
Simplicity is the key to an eco-friendly website. Adopt a minimalistic design approach, removing unnecessary elements that consume additional energy. A clean and straightforward design not only conserves energy but also creates a more user-friendly experience.
Use green plugins and themes:
If you're using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, explore eco-friendly plugins and themes. Some developers focus on sustainability, ensuring their products are optimised for lower energy consumption.
Implement mobile responsiveness:
In an increasingly mobile world, ensuring your website is fully responsive is vital. Mobile-friendly sites generally consume less energy than traditional desktop versions, contributing to a greener web.
Compress and optimise images:
Images play a significant role in web content, but they can be resource-intensive. Optimise images by compressing them without compromising quality. Smaller image files translate to faster loading times and reduced energy usage.
Enable lazy loading:
By enabling lazy loading for images and videos, you load media content only when users scroll down to view it. This approach reduces the initial page load time, minimising energy consumption.
Minimise HTTP requests:
Limit the number of external scripts and stylesheets to reduce HTTP requests. Fewer requests mean less data transfer and, subsequently, lower energy usage.
Clean up your code:
Ensure your website's code is clean and efficient. Remove unnecessary code, comments, and white spaces. A streamlined codebase reduces file sizes and contributes to a greener website.
Promote sustainable content:
As a website owner or blogger, you have the power to raise awareness about sustainability. Create content that educates readers on environmental issues, eco-friendly practices, and ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
As awareness about environmental impacts grows, efforts to reduce the internet's carbon footprint and promote sustainability are likely to continue. Building an eco-friendly website is a testament to your commitment to sustainability. By choosing green web hosting, optimising performance, embracing minimalism, and promoting sustainable content, you can significantly reduce your website's carbon footprint. Let's work together to create a greener web and contribute positively to our planet's well-being.
