Guide on creating a sustainable website
More and more brands are integrating sustainability into their business strategy, but often don’t think to build a sustainable website. Our guide explores why that’s so key to a green brand presence and what measures you can take.
The Internet’s high carbon footprint
One thing is clear: the Internet is here to stay. However, we all need to think more about how our daily use of the Web is impacting the climate. From the underlying server infrastructure to smartphones and other end devices – everything related to the Internet guzzles energy. And because that energy doesn’t just come from renewable sources, the Internet has a high carbon footprint.
Taking responsibility for your website
It’s not down to just one individual, company, or brand to offset the entire Internet’s emissions, but we can all do our part – ideally where we have the most power to make a change. And that’s where our own website comes into play. You can implement a wide range of measures to reduce the energy consumed as a result of people exploring your online presence. By doing so, you’ll lay the foundation for a carbon-neutral website.
Server hosting is essential to a green website
When assessing how sustainable your company’s website is, you first need to take a look at the service provider that’s hosting the site on its servers. After all, servers require a lot of energy because not only do they have to be powered, they also need to be cooled to stop them from overheating. It therefore makes a huge difference whether the server host gets its energy from sustainable, renewable resources or harmful fossil fuels. This crucial information is usually easy to find on your service provider’s website or by emailing them. If their energy source is not compatible with your company’s sustainability strategy, you should consider switching providers in order to build a sustainable website.
Technical measures contribute to a sustainable website
In addition to how the servers are powered, making technical and content adjustments directly on your website can play a role if you want to make a tangible difference. Loading and displaying certain media formats is one factor that can significantly influence the success of your sustainability strategy. So, specifically what measures can you take to ensure your company’s website is sustainable? Our latest DMEXCO guide has the answers – and you can download it here for free!
