Welcome back to part two of our ‘Eco-Conscious Digital/Sustainability’ series! Last time, we talked about why being digitally eco-conscious is so important, and in this article, we’ll explore practical strategies we can take right now to reduce our digital carbon footprint. So, grab yourself a cuppa, and let’s dive right in!
Ever thought about the carbon cost of your Netflix binges? Shockingly, platforms like Netflix churn out roughly 24.9 billion grams of carbon every year from its website visits alone.
When it comes to hosting video content on your website, ditch the autoplay. Not only does it reduce data usage, but it’s a win for accessibility too.
Images are often a website’s heaviest component, consuming energy with every pixel. The more images you use and the larger the file size, the more data is transferred, resulting in increased energy consumption.
Optimise image sizes and formats to reduce data transfer, and compress them using a tool or plugin like TinyPNG or Smush to reduce their weight. Also note that WebP format lossless images are 26% smaller in size compared to PNGs, and 25-34% smaller than comparable JPEG images at equivalent SSIM quality index. With optimised images, your pages will be lighter (and therefore better for the planet) but will also load quicker, leading to happier end users.
We’re not saying you need to abandon emails completely, but there are ways to cut down and be more sustainable. Regularly declutter your inbox and delete unnecessary junk. We’re all guilty of sending an email but forgetting to attach the thing we said we’d attach, so ensure you triple-check your drafts before you hit that ‘send’ button to minimise follow-ups.
Also, unsubscribe from irrelevant sales-y newsletters — not only is it beneficial for the planet, but your wallet will thank you too!
Bulky websites aren’t great for your user, let alone the environment. Think about your existing content — does that blog from 2010 still serve a purpose? If a page isn’t essential, try merging it with existing relevant content. Fewer pages mean fewer server requests, less data transfer, and a cleaner, greener web presence overall.
Less truly is more, especially when it comes to sustainable design. Opt for fewer widgets, simple layouts, and cleaner elements. Not only does this benefit sustainability, but it’s also aesthetically pleasing.
The code that powers your website should be written with sustainability in mind. Well-structured, efficient code minimises energy usage, ensuring your site runs smoothly with minimal environmental impact.
Sustainable coding practices include:
Ensuring your website is optimised for search will ensure your users can find relevant content quickly, without the need for unnecessary browsing.
Get in touch with [email protected] to speak to our consultancy team about optimising your digital estate, and ensuring your organisation has both a performant and sustainable online presence.
