Using virtual platforms such as social networks, messengers or websites has a very real impact on the environment. The internet is very energy-intensive. So much so that if it were a country, it would be the fourth largest polluter on the planet. And now, anyone can calculate how much damage their internet surfing causes to the environment.
Euronews reports on an innovative tool developed by climate scientists at the University of Exeter in partnership with Madeby.studio.
The Digital Impact for Species project is a kind of online calculator of the negative impact of websites on the planet. You can enter a web address and get information about the resources it consumes, as well as the emissions that are released into the environment as a result of this consumption.
"When we visit a website, we rarely think about the impact on the environment. But this is due to the high costs involved, ranging from the energy consumed when transferring information from the data centre to your computer or smartphone, to the water used to cool the servers," said project leader Dr Marcos Oliveira from the Environment and Climate Impact team at Exeter.
The calculator reports on water consumption, CO2 generation and energy consumption. Based on this data, it assigns the site a rating from A+ to F.
Dry figures mean little to users, so the project authors offer visual comparisons. For example, 9,000 monthly visits to YouTube.com require 10 litres of water. That's as much as a capuchin monkey needs to live for 77 days.
"It's not about naming and shaming websites with a high environmental impact, but about engaging people and encouraging discussion on how we can build a more sustainable internet," adds Dr. Oliveira.
The calculator provides information about water usage, CO2 generation, and energy consumption. Based on this data, it assigns a rating to the website from A+ to F.
Website environmental impact calculation parameters
- Data loading. Using Google PageSpeed Insights, the tool accurately measures the amount of data loaded when a page is opened. This refers to the total size of all media content. The larger it is, the more resources the page consumes, which in turn indicates a higher amount of emissions in the production of this energy.
- Server sustainability. Data from the Green Web Foundation helps to check what type of fuel the equipment runs on.
- Emissions calculation. Based on a sustainable web design model, the tool provides a conclusion about the carbon emissions, water and energy consumption of each specific page.
How to make a website more environmentally friendly?
The simplest advice for users is to limit their visits to various websites and reduce their internet surfing.
However, the environmental awareness of website developers is also important. Researchers say that the more minimalist a web page is, the less harm it does to the environment. This means reducing the amount of media on the website, limiting the use of fonts, avoiding videos, and simplifying navigation.
In addition, it is worth paying attention to hosting — it is better to choose one that uses renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. Search engine optimisation will also be useful, as it will reduce the time people spend searching for the pages they need.
Data processing servers for artificial intelligence raise the most concerns about their impact on the environment. EcoPolitics reported that tech giants are trying to compensate for the enormous damage by purchasing carbon credits – a kind of investment in climate projects.
