7 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Online

As the world becomes increasingly digital, our carbon footprint online is growing. From streaming videos to shopping online, our digital activities are contributing to carbon emissions. The digital revolution has brought with it a wave of innovation and convenience, but it has also contributed to a significant increase in carbon emissions. In fact, the global ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector is responsible for 3.7% of total greenhouse gas emissions and according to some estimates, it is expected to rise to 14% by 2040.

However, there are simple steps we can take to reduce our online carbon footprint and make the digital world more environmentally friendly.

1. Don’t leave devices on standby if they're not in use

One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your online carbon footprint is to turn off your electronic devices when they are not in use. Most modern devices have a standby mode that still uses energy, even when they are not actively being used. By turning your devices off, you can significantly reduce their energy consumption and, in turn, their carbon footprint.

2. Staying away from unnecessary web searches

Every time you conduct an online search, energy is being used to power the servers and data centers that store and retrieve the information you’re looking for. By avoiding unnecessary web searches, you can reduce the energy consumption of the internet and decrease your online carbon footprint. Before conducting a search, take a moment to think about whether the information you’re looking for is truly necessary.

3. Decrease the brightness on your computer monitor

Your computer monitor uses a significant amount of energy and the brighter it is, the more energy it uses. By decreasing the brightness on your computer monitor, you can reduce its energy consumption and decrease your online carbon footprint. Go to the display settings on your computer and adjust the brightness to a lower setting.

4. Download videos and other content instead of streaming it

Streaming videos and other content requires a constant connection to the internet and uses a significant amount of energy. By downloading videos and other content instead of streaming them, you can reduce the energy consumption of the internet and decrease your online carbon footprint. Additionally, downloading content to your device will allow you to watch it offline. This can save energy and reduce your carbon footprint even further.

5. Close multiple browser windows

Having multiple browser windows open can use a significant amount of energy, as each window requires energy to load and maintain. By closing multiple browser windows, you can reduce the energy consumption of your computer and decrease your online carbon footprint. Additionally, having multiple browser windows open can slow down your computer. This can make it less efficient, so closing them can also improve your computer’s performance.

6. Buy refurbished or remanufactured than new

When you need devices buy refurbished or re-manufactured. Any devices that are repairable are relatively better for the environment. When purchasing new electronic devices, look for ones that are energy efficient. Energy-efficient devices use less energy and have a smaller carbon footprint than less efficient devices. Look for devices that have an Energy Star rating, which is a government-backed program that certifies products that meet energy efficiency standards.

7. Make your website more efficient and eco-friendly

Optimising your website can help to reduce the amount of energy required to load it. This can in turn help reduce your carbon footprint. This can be done by compressing images, minifying code, and using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to reduce latency. Eco-friendly web design is a design that is focused on reducing the environmental impact of the website. This can be done by using sustainable design principles. These include using clean and efficient code and reducing the number of tracking and advertising scripts.

Eco-Friendly Web Alliance (EFWA) offers a free website audit, not just for one page but for the whole website.

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Written by Team EFWA