The state of the environment is an ever present concern and we are all looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint. An unfortunate reality that many of us overlook is the fact that our internet consumption is a significant factor in global greenhouse gas emissions.

While we have been switching off light bulbs and switching the dishwasher to eco mode for many years now, the relationships between the online world and the state of our natural world is not often discussed. However, web design companies are increasingly becoming aware of the role that they play in preserving our environment.

If you are looking to build a new website, it is well worth considering whether the web design company in Melbourne you have partnered with promotes sustainable web design. What exactly is sustainable web design? Read on to find out!

The internet and the environment: fast facts

Many of us have come to rely on the internet — approximately 4 billion people, in fact. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that our collective internet habits have a substantial impact on the environment. Here are some fast facts that illustrate the nature of this relationship:

  • It is estimated that digital technologies are responsible for 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is slightly higher than the airline industry and is expected to only grow over the next decade.
  • Conducting a single Google search emits an estimated 1–10 g of greenhouse gases. In 2009, Google refuted this claim, stating one search results in only .2 g of greenhouse gases being released into the Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Sending a standard email costs around 4 g of. An email with a large attachment? That can cost up to 50 g of.
  • It is not only browsing and streaming that has an impact on our world. Data centres, which store all of our saved photos, videos, and files, consume around 200 terawatt hours of electricity a year. This is more than some countries.
  • While big tech companies are making some strides to cut their carbon usage, many have come under fire for promoting what is known as ‘addictive design’. An example of addictive design? The autoplay function on Netflix, encouraging users to continue streaming when they might be better off taking some time away from the screen.

What is sustainable web design?

The internet is not going away any time soon, meaning it is up to us to implement digital practices that are environmentally considerate. One such practice is sustainable web design.

Sustainable web design is a broad manifesto that aims to educate users about the impact that their digital behaviour has on the environment. The principles behind sustainable web design can be implemented by developers to ensure that information is accessible, useful, and considered.

15 years ago, the internet was seen as a platform that promoted sustainability, primarily as it reduced our reliance on paper. However, going paper free is no longer enough. We now need to make significant changes to the way that websites are built and used if we are to protect our natural world.

Sustainable web design principles and practices

There are many different principles and practices that go into the concept of sustainable web design. As this is an evolving field, designers are continually coming up with new ways that they can promote ecologically sustainability in their work. Here are a few of the most popular:

  • Value use: Images and videos should only be used when they add genuine value to a website. It goes without saying that high definition videos take up more of your internet bandwidth, resulting in increased carbon emissions. Be sparing in your use of these resources — you will likely improve the overall user experience at the same time.
  • Optimising for OLED screens: OLED screens light up each pixel individually and represent a great way through which designers can save on carbon emissions. Different colours require different levels of energy. Understanding which colours are most energy intensive and designing a website with this in mind can be a great way of reducing a website’s carbon footprint.
  • Offer dark mode: It will not come as a surprise that darker colours require less energy to be produced. Many websites these days come with the option to switch to ‘dark mode’, which is a great way of conserving energy. Dark mode is also favoured by those who are concerned about the impact of bright lights and screens on their eye health.

There are many small decisions that we can make on a daily basis to take better care of our environment. One of these is prioritising sustainable web design. If you are thinking of building a new website, reach out to a web design company in Melbourne and inquire about their sustainable web design philosophy.