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Did you know your website has a carbon footprint?

Did you know your website has a carbon footprint?

Advances in technology have facilitated a huge reduction in the need for business travel and unnecessary paper and printing. This is all good for the environment, but our online activities have a carbon footprint that businesses need to consider.

by Jenny Neville

Account Director

5th September 2024

Terms like ‘cloud’ and ‘wireless’ can make the impact of digital feel abstract and inconsequential, when the truth is that websites have a significant impact on the environment. To keep us online and connected, the internet is supported by huge data centres that require vast amounts of electricity to power and cool the servers in them.

Collectively our digital carbon footprint is growing, but luckily there are ways to improve the carbon footprint of your online activity. A great place to start is with these quick website fixes.

Switch to a green hosting provider

The high demand for electricity to power and cool data centres is often met by burning fossil fuels. To avoid this and reduce your carbon emissions, ensure your website is hosted by a data centre that uses clean, green electricity instead. By switching to a verified green hosting provider, you know you’re doing the right thing.

Reduce video size and prevent autoplay

Video is a brilliant way to communicate your message. But video files can be large and autoplay means a video will automatically start playing when someone visits your website. Instead, disable autoplay and let the user decide what they watch.

Declutter your website

Tidy up by removing very old or irrelevant content and code and ensure your content is purposeful. This will help your website load faster. And the faster a website loads, the less energy it consumes and the better it is for the environment. This also improves user experience and helps increase your SEO rank.

Design an intuitive customer journey

Be sure people can find their way around your website easily and access the information they need quickly. Well planned information architecture will make your website engaging and visitors will spend time on the information they are looking for rather than wasting time and energy searching for it.

Consider your content

Use a considered number of images or videos, and make sure those you are using are formatted to load quickly, reducing the volume of data required to load them. It’s also important to remember that not everyone has access to superfast internet or the latest devices. A slower connection and older devices can reduce load times, creating issues with digital accessibility and equity.

To learn more about how to reduce the carbon footprint of your website and how Monogram can help, please contact us

Glossary

Eco Web Hosting

Involves hosting websites committed to environmentally friendly practices. It minimises environmental impact through the use of energy-efficient technologies, reliance on renewable energy sources, and the adoption of sustainable practices, all aimed at reducing the carbon footprint associated with hosting services.

Energy-efficient technologies

Technologies designed to minimise energy consumption while providing effective and optimised performance. These technologies are developed with a focus on reducing energy waste and environmental impact. They may incorporate features like improved efficiency, resource conservation, and sustainable practices.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

SEO combines content optimisation and technical enhancements to boost a website's visibility in search engine results. It involves refining content, utilising strategic keywords and optimising technical aspects like site speed and indexing to attract organic traffic and improve search engine rankings.

Information Architecture

The organisation and structure of content on a website or application to enhance the user experience. It focuses on intuitive navigation, clear categorisation and logical flow to ensure users can easily find and understand information within a digital space.