Energy-Efficient Website Design: Insights from Dave’s Presentation

Earlier this year, I presented at the Rediscovery Centre (Ireland’s Centre for the Circular Economy) on designing energy-efficient websites. As the internet grows, so does its environmental impact. Predictions indicate that by 2025, the IT industry could consume 20% of the world’s electricity and be responsible for up to 5.5% of global carbon emissions—surpassing the emissions of all but three countries: China, India, and the US. We must rethink how we build and maintain websites.

However, energy-efficient design isn’t just about saving the planet—it’s also about creating better websites for people. A simple, streamlined design is more energy-efficient and easier for users to navigate, reducing cognitive load and improving accessibility. As the famous designer Dieter Rams said, “Less, but better.” By focusing on what’s essential, we create eco-friendly and user-friendly websites.

Key Strategies for Designing Efficient and User-Friendly Websites:

1. Choose Green Hosting
   Select hosting providers that use renewable energy and have data centres close to your audience. This reduces the energy needed to transmit data and results in faster load times, improving the user experience. (In Ireland, Amazon and Blacknight)
2. Simplify Content and Features
   Remove unnecessary features and content that clutter your website. This reduces energy consumption and makes your site easier to use and navigate. Avoid features like excessive animations or complex menus that confuse users and slow loading times.
3. Optimise Media Usage
   Images and videos can be heavy on energy and slow to load. Instead of large images, use lightweight options like scalable vector graphics (SVGs) and only include media that adds real value to your content. This helps your site load faster and keeps users engaged without overwhelming them.
4. Use Clean Design and Coding
   Dark colour schemes on OLED/AMOLED screens save energy and can be easier on the eyes. Clean, efficient coding improves loading speed and reduces server energy use. A minimalist design with fewer distractions helps users focus and navigate more easily.
5. Prioritise User Experience (UX)
   Good UX design helps users find what they need quickly, reducing the time they spend on your site and the energy it consumes. Clear navigation and well-organised content benefit everyone, especially users with cognitive disabilities or those who may be less familiar with the web.
6. Improve Website Speed
   Fast-loading websites use less energy and offer a better experience for all users. Reduce page size by compressing files, eliminating unnecessary plugins, and keeping your code lean. This ensures your website is accessible even to users with slower internet connections or older devices.
7. Minimise Page Size and Elements:
   Keep your website simple. Avoid excessive scripts, uncompressed media, or content that doesn’t serve a purpose. Every element on a page uses energy, so focus on what’s essential to keep your site light and efficient.

Case Study: Rediscovery Centre

When we redesigned the Rediscovery Centre’s website, we cut its carbon emissions by 80%. The new homepage now produces only 0.12g of CO2 per view, down from 0.51g. This puts it in the top 10% of websites for energy efficiency. The redesign focused on a clean, simple layout and optimised media, proving that energy-efficient design can also mean a better user experience.

Conclusion

Creating energy-efficient websites is not just about reducing our environmental footprint; it’s about improving the internet for everyone. By embracing the idea that “Less, but better” we can build websites that are sustainable, easy to use, and accessible to all. Every small step, from choosing the right hosting to simplifying content, can help create a greener, more inclusive digital world.