When you think of using the internet, chances are you think that the web is already making the world a greener place, simply by reducing the use of paper. After all, what is the internet, a huge place to store files that were once found in filing cabinets in the offices of millions.
However, as a web developer, there is a bigger picture to consider. We should not just be thinking about how we are helping businesses and individuals reduce waste, but also how the outer walls of the construction work.
Carbon Footprint of One Website
One of the biggest ironies of the internet is the fact that as internet speeds are becoming faster and more efficient, designers have started building more cumbersome websites. Statistics have shown that since 2003 the average size of a webpage has quintupled. To put that into numbers, the average site in 2003 was 93.7K in 2009 the average site was over 507K. Since performance of the internet has improved, designers have forgotten basic compression logic and now are putting larger files behind each web design.
The highlight of this information is that we are building more interactive and richer website experiences for the users, but at the cost of energy required to power, cool, house, and deliver the information that makes up each website. One Harvard University physicist, Dr. Alex Wissner-Gross has determined that the CO2 emissions from viewing one webpage are 20 milligrams per second. This goes up to 300 mg when the page has complex images, videos, and animations.
While this news may not mean much to you or is difficult to understand, the most important thing you need to know is that every page that you design has consequences.
Measuring Tool
So, now that you are thinking about how green your sites are, you may wonder, how do I really know if I am making a difference?
Dr. Weissner-Gross has created an environmental Trustmark calculator that monitors the carbon footprint of your websites. The calculator monitors the servers, the networks, and the visitor’s computer while on your site.
The Ever Changing Web Page
There have been numerous studies that have reported various findings about web optimization. One of the studies showed that in 1997, the average length of a video posted was 45 seconds. In comparison, by 2007 the average size of a video being posted was 192.6 seconds. On average, the videos being posted on YouTube weigh around 10 MB and there are over 65,000 new videos posted every day.
Long Term
Overall, the long term growth of the web is extremely important. There needs to be a new set of standards in place for web development that lowers the amount of energy web pages require and create. Consider offering your clients a more effective and “green” website in the future. If we all take time to do a bit of research and use tools to help lower the carbon emissions from our websites, it will not take long to make the web a greener place to be.
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