Did you know that, on average, 4.61 grams of CO₂ are produced every time a webpage gets viewed? In total, the internet accounts for about 4% of all global carbon emissions.
A seemingly small but actually significant number—and one that has been and is continuing to rise.
If you’re an environmentally conscious website owner, how do you reduce your website’s carbon emissions? It’s actually easier—and far more beneficial—than you might have initially thought. Here are the key ways to do so.
Efficient Coding
Building a more sustainable website begins with efficient coding. The more streamlined your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript codes are, the less data needs to be transferred from servers to users.
Simply put, the shorter your code, the less time and power computers need to load your websites. This includes your business computer (and results in lower electricity bills).
Not to mention, shorter load times help with SEO and make users want to come back to your website more often.
Intuitive User Experience
But it’s not only the code—the user experience also needs to be intuitive and efficient as well.
A well-organized, easy-to-use, highly navigable website reduces the amount of time users spend on the website, as well as the number of clicks they perform.
And again, having great UX/UI will naturally increase the number of visits to your website.
Greener Tools and Hosts
As much as possible, tools and software that are more energy-efficient should also be used.
For example, many website developers use VPNs to test how their websites perform in different parts of the world. It’s therefore important to use the most energy-efficient ones. For example, you can check the Surfshark website to learn how to conduct a safe, sustainable search.
Other programs involved in creating a website include tools like photo and video editors, as well as website builders.
Additionally, choose to have your websites hosted on eco-friendly server providers. These companies’ servers are hosted on carbon-neutral or renewable energy.
Image Optimization
While a website’s visuals are important, using too many high-resolution images increases the website’s energy needs.
Consider using image formats like WebP or compressing images—these drastically reduce images’ file size with little to no compromise in quality.
Additionally, implement lazy loading—a process that only loads videos as they appear to a user. This ensures that no energy is spent on those elements unless the user needs or chooses to view them.
Regular Performance Audits
But, of course, websites are not a set-it-and-forget-it affair. Tech changes all the time, after all.
Periodically use tools like Website Carbon Calculator to assess your website’s energy consumption. See if it’s increasing over time then make adjustments accordingly.
Additionally, be on the lookout for new developments that can decrease your website’s energy needs. For example, WebP is a great, energy-efficient image format—but many websites still are not using it.
Conclusion
If you think about it, prioritizing sustainability is a win for everybody.
- It reduces your company’s energy needs;
- It meets the growing demand for eco-friendly business practices;
- It’s likely to increase your website’s visits (and consequently, sales);
- It helps Mother Earth.
And while your efforts may be a single drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of saving the environment, it has always been through collective action that we can make significant changes.
