Why Should You Care?
Today, we're diving into the virtual realm to discuss a topic that's as important as your morning coffee - your website's carbon footprint - but you may ask "why does it matter?"
We all know the negative impact of single-use plastics and burning fossil fuels, but the carbon footprint of the internet is something that is not well known and often overlooked. According to Website Carbon, the internet consumes more electricity than the whole of the UK. In fact, in 2018, streaming favourite Netflix usage accounted for 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is as much as Spain emits in a year!
Your digital presence isn't just about pixels and codes; it's also about making sure you're not leaving too large a carbon print in cyberspace. So, let's lace up those eco-friendly shoes and walk through some steps to keep your website green and clean!
Step 1: Image Optimization – Shrink Those Pixels
Images are like the guilty pleasure of web design – we all want them, but they come at a cost. Optimise your images to strike the perfect balance between visual appeal and environmental responsibility. You can reduce your image file sizes by employing compression techniques, choosing the right format, and eliminating redundant data. Programs such as Photoshop have an 'optimise for web' feature, and there are plenty of sites that will compress them for you. Your website will load faster, and the Earth will breathe a sigh of relief.
Step 2: the Technical Bit
While your content managers are developing excellent image optimising skills, your web development agency can also be useful in reducing your website's carbon footprint. At LuckyTurn Media we adopt a judicious approach to coding by keeping your JavaScript use to a minimum, and implementing solid caching strategies. Caching essentially preloads frequently accessed data, thus extensively reducing the load on your database. This not only makes your website faster but also lowers the energy consumption of your hosting infrastructure. Your website visitors will thank you, and so will the planet!
Step 3: Audit your Content
If your website has been around for a few years, it's likely you will have published hundreds or even thousands of pages. You may have blogs and events long since relevant. And thousands of unused images. By removing this 'baggage' you can reduce the strain on your site's data storage and transfer needs, as well as the processing power required by a computer to generate those pages.
If you are thinking about auditing that old content, an agency like LuckyTurn Media can help make it a more manageable mission.
Step 4: Hosting with a Green Heart
Leaving the biggest impact until last; where you host your website matters. It's like choosing a home – you'd want one with good vibes and a green garden. When hosting a site, we opt for server infrastructure that resides in data centres powered by renewable energy sources. Think of it as giving your website a solar-powered cape; these green-friendly data centres use 100% or near 100% renewable energy, ensuring your digital presence is as clean as a whistle.
We always ensure our hosts are green, and our preferred hosting supplier runs on 100% renewable energy servers. By selecting them, our clients demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Conclusion: Green is the New Black in Web Development
In the era of climate change awareness, being a responsible business owner extends beyond your physical storefront. Your online presence matters, too. So, let's commit to reducing our websites' carbon footprints.
- optimize images
- cache like a pro
- host with a green heart
- get rid of unnecessary content
Your website will be faster, your users happier, and Mother Earth will give you a virtual high-five.
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, making environmentally conscious choices is not just a trend; it's a responsibility. As you embark on your web development journey, remember – a greener website isn't just good for the planet; it's great for your business too. Cheers to a web presence that's as sustainable as your growth goals!
