Last Updated on Januar 3, 2025
A Handbook for Everybody in the Web Sustainability Business
This article contains a translation of Zartherbes Design’s article in German: https://zartherbes.de/2024/12/02/ein-buch-uber-klimafreundliches-webdesign/
Yes, something big is in development … Get an exclusive sneak peek into a collaboration between Anne-Mieke Bovelett, Anja Reimann, and me. We’re working on an illustrated book about sustainability on the internet.
Immediate Measures You Can Take
Here’s an excerpt about the first steps to starting a sustainable website:
- Optimize images: Compress and use modern formats (e.g. WebP) to reduce page load times.
- Efficient code: Eliminate unnecessary code and use lean frameworks.
- Green hosting: Choose hosting providers that are powered by renewable energy.
- Accessibility first: Follow WCAG guidelines to ensure accessibility.
- Reduce data transfer: Use caching and lazy loading techniques.
Building Sustainable Websites Makes Good Business Sense
Read More About the Importance of Website Sustainability
having a sustainable website is becoming increasingly crucial for environmental responsibility and business success. As the internet’s carbon footprint continues to grow—now accounting for approximately 3.7% of global carbon emissions, comparable to the airline industry—the environmental impact of websites can no longer be ignored.
A sustainable website reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions through efficient coding, optimized images, and streamlined hosting solutions, while also improving user experience through faster loading times and better performance. Read that again: A sustainable website improves user experience.
This web design and development approach aligns with growing consumer expectations for corporate environmental responsibility while potentially reducing operational costs through decreased server usage and bandwidth requirements.
Read more on my blog: https://warrenlainenaida.net/category/sustainability
Meet the Authors!
Connect with Anne-Mieke, Anja, or myself on Twitter/X – DM us for more information about the book
Anne Mieke Bovelett – Accessibility Advocate | Teaches WordPress, FSE and Greyd.Suite
Anja Zartherbes Design – Freelance Graphic Design in Düsseldorf. Creating websites since 2001
Warren Laine-Naida – 25+ yrs building websites, teaching marketing and digital skills