What is Sustainable Web Design? 10 Tips for Mindful Companies
Sustainability was once thought to be a buzzword – a fad that would likely fade as budget lines reminded companies that profit margins come first. Yet time has shown that sustainability – and its sister term “green” – wasn’t just a trend, but rather an evolution.
Consumers continue to desire environmentally-friendly products and services, leading companies to prioritize sustainability in their business practices. Recently, this trend has gone beyond the physical (e.g. sustainable materials, energy-efficient operations) and into the digital world with the rise of sustainable web design.
So what exactly is sustainable web design? At its core, sustainable web design seeks to create websites that have as little negative impact on the environment as possible. This can include using energy-efficient servers, reducing data storage and transmission, and minimizing unnecessary features or the numerous pages that are often included in a website.
“Wait, a website is just… data. That doesn’t have an environmental impact, right?”
It’s a common misconception that if “you can’t touch it, it’s not real.” But the truth is, every time we interact with a website, there is an environmental impact. The energy used to power servers and data centers, as well as the resources needed to manufacture and dispose of electronic devices, all contribute to carbon emissions and waste.
But sustainable web design goes beyond just reducing these impacts. It also aims to create a better user experience by optimizing load times, minimizing distractions, and simplifying navigation. This not only benefits the environment but also improves user engagement and satisfaction.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into the concept of sustainable web design – from how a sustainable web designer builds a website to how users can make more eco-friendly choices in their online activities.
The Web - The World’s Biggest Carbon Emmitter?
“If the Internet was a country, it would be the 4th largest polluter.”
This stark statement opens up the Sustainable Web Manifesto – an online manifesto created by a group of developers, designers, and researchers who aim to make the web more sustainable. Based on the research behind the SWM, the internet’s sheer volume of CO2 emissions will rival that of the world’s largest developed countries by 2030.
Yet the web’s ubiquity and our reliance on it means we overlook the amount of energy it takes to keep it running. From data centers that power our favorite websites and apps, to the devices we use to access the web, every click and scroll has an environmental impact.
But how exactly does the internet contribute to carbon emissions and waste? The answer lies in the energy consumption required to power data centers – those ever-running warehouses that store and process all the data needed to keep us connected online.
Consider the rise of no-code website development. Many drop-and-click software services have made it easier for businesses and individuals to create and launch a website with little to no coding knowledge. While this may be convenient, it also means more websites are being created and hosted, leading to an increase in data center energy consumption.
In fact, a report by the International Energy Agency found that data centers consume about 1% of the world’s electricity – and that number is expected to grow quickly This energy consumption not only contributes to CO2 emissions but also leads to other environmental impacts such as water usage and waste generation.
Sustainable Web Design – Fighting Back Against Energy-Hungry Websites
So, if the ease by which websites can be built, launched, and left eating away at energy consumption contributes to environmental issues, what can be done about it? It’s true that we aren’t likely to turn off the web, so instead we must take a proactive approach to how and why we create websites. This is where sustainable web design comes in.
The Why: What’s The Purpose?
Sustainability in web design requires a step back to analyze the purpose and intent of a website.
Is it solely for promotional purposes or does it serve a larger function?
Will this site have pages that are rarely visited, contributing to wasted energy?
Are there ways to reduce the site’s carbon footprint without compromising its purpose?
Can we prioritize energy-efficient hosting options?
These are all questions that should be considered when designing a website with sustainability in mind. Much of the time, websites can be built with far less code and resources than what is typically used, resulting in a more sustainable online presence.
For instance, consider that an average website includes images, videos, animations and other design elements that can significantly increase the site's carbon footprint. The site is also hosted on a server which requires energy to run and maintain.
Data is then transferred between the server and users' devices, consuming even more energy. If that site exists to sell products or services, there are additional factors to consider such as packaging and shipping emissions.
On its face, this may not seem like a significant issue, but when we consider the sheer number of websites and online businesses in existence, the impact becomes much more apparent. And that number is growing faster than ever before.
The How: Web Design With Sustainability In Mind
Design plays a crucial role in the sustainability of a website – but this doesn’t mean we create for creating’s sake (no matter how drop-and-click-easy it is!)
By utilizing efficient design principles such as minimalistic layouts, optimized images, and proper coding techniques, websites can reduce their energy consumption significantly. This not only benefits the environment but also leads to faster loading times and better user experience.
For example, consider an online eCommerce store that uses high-resolution images on its product pages. These images may look visually appealing, but they can slow down the website's loading speed and require more energy to render.
By optimizing these images for web use and implementing lazy loading techniques, the website can maintain its visual appeal while reducing its carbon footprint.
Another way design impacts sustainability is through user experience (UX) design. An intuitive and user-friendly interface allows users to quickly find what they're looking for, leading to fewer clicks and less time spent browsing. This equates to lower energy consumption as fewer resources are needed to load each page.
Optimizing and streamlining the checkout process can also have a significant impact on sustainability. By reducing the number of steps and simplifying the overall experience, customers are more likely to complete their purchase. This means less energy wasted on abandoned carts and fewer resources used in shipping and transportation for returns.
These design choices allow sites to run more efficiently, with less server load and data processing needed. This leads to a smaller carbon footprint for the website and the company as a whole.
The Role of the Sustainable Web Designer
“Sounds like a lot of work – why not just build a template site and be done with it?”
It’s easy to see why so many businesses would think this way. After all, time is money and building a custom website that incorporates sustainability into every aspect can be time-consuming and require specialized knowledge. However, the role of the sustainable web designer goes beyond just creating an aesthetically pleasing site.
Sustainable web designers understand green design.
A truly sustainable website requires ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure it remains efficient and environmentally friendly. This includes regularly monitoring server resources, optimizing images and code for speed, and implementing new technologies as they emerge.
A sustainable web designer must also stay informed about industry news and best practices to continuously improve their skills and incorporate new methods into their designs. This means keeping up with the latest trends in sustainable web design, such as using renewable energy sources for hosting or implementing green coding practices.
Sustainable web designers can talk the talk…
But it’s more than just expertise – a sustainable web designer also has a responsibility to educate clients on the importance of sustainability in web design. By explaining the environmental impact of certain design choices, they can help clients make informed decisions that align with their values and goals.
…and they walk the walk.
A sustainable web designer must also consider the social impact of their designs. This includes ensuring accessibility for all users, regardless of ability or device, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion through representation in imagery and content.
By prioritizing sustainability and educating clients on its importance, a web designer can make a positive impact not only on the environment but also on society. As more businesses and individuals become conscious of their carbon footprint and social responsibility, there is a growing demand for websites that reflect these values.
10 Quick Tips for Sustainable Web Design
It may seem complicated to design from a sustainable perspective, but the path is actually quite simple. Here are a few tips to get started:
1. Optimize Images: Large, high-resolution images not only slow down website loading time but also increase energy usage and carbon emissions. Optimizing images for web use can significantly reduce the environmental impact of a website.
2. Use Sustainable Hosting Services: Many hosting services now offer renewable energy options for their servers. Choosing one of these providers can reduce the carbon footprint of your website and align with sustainable values.
3. Minimize Code: Every line of code on a website requires energy to process and display. By writing clean and concise code, web designers can decrease the amount of energy needed to run a website.
4. Reduce Plugins: While plugins may seem like an easy way to add functionality to a website, they can often slow down the overall performance and increase energy usage. Be selective when choosing which plugins to use and regularly review and remove any unnecessary ones.
5. Utilize Cache: Caching is a tool that stores temporary copies of web pages on a server, reducing the need for constant data retrieval and decreasing loading times. This ultimately leads to less energy consumption.
6. Consider Renewable Energy Credits (RECs): In addition to using sustainable hosting services, some companies offer RECs or carbon offsets that allow businesses to offset their energy usage by investing in renewable energy projects.
7. Optimize for Mobile: With the rise of mobile devices, it's crucial to ensure your website is optimized for mobile viewing. This not only improves user experience but also reduces energy usage by optimizing loading times and reducing unnecessary data transfer.
8. Utilize Green Web Design Practices: Simple design elements such as using lighter colors, limiting the use of animations and videos, and minimizing the number of images on a page can all contribute to reducing energy consumption.
9. Encourage Employee Sustainability: Educate your employees on sustainable practices when it comes to their use of technology, such as turning off their computers when not in use or using power-saving settings on devices.
10. Partner with Green Companies: Consider partnering with other businesses that have similar sustainability goals. This not only helps spread the message of sustainability but also allows for possible collaborations and initiatives to reduce energy usage together.
This is just the start of the many ways to make your website eco-friendly. By implementing these practices, you not only reduce your carbon footprint but also create a more user-friendly and inclusive experience for your audience.
Join us on our quest to develop more sustainable websites.
As you can imagine, every small step taken towards sustainability adds up to make a big impact. Here at Atlas Studio, we’re committed to creating sustainable websites that not only meet the needs of our clients but also contribute to a greener and more equitable world. We believe in the power of technology to drive positive change and we use it responsibly.
One of our key initiatives is to create sustainable websites that aren’t merely optimized to help reduce environmental impact, but also to serve as a platform for businesses and individuals who share our values.
We want to help build a community of environmentally conscious companies and individuals who are committed to making a positive impact in their own ways. Because when we act together with a common goal, we can create a greater impact and inspire others to do the same.
Are you ready to take the step toward a more sustainable and equitable web? Contact our team today to learn how you can join us in creating a better world through technology.
Together, we can make a difference. So let’s build a more sustainable future online for us all.
