Sustainable Web Design: How to design a web that is environmentally friendly.

Beautiful website, load quickly ... but do you know that you are destroying the world without knowing it?

As a business owner, marketer or website developer We are all obsessed with the creation of the "most beautiful" website "and" the easiest use ". Complicated code writing And choosing a high performance server But there is one question that we may have never asked ourselves: the website that we created to leave the "carbon footprint" on this world?

We tend to think that the digital world is clean. Inconvenient And does not affect the environment But in reality Every time someone visit our website, Server requires energy to process and send data via the internet network that covers around the world. Most of these energy are still produced from fossil fuel combustion. Which is the main cause of global warming. This is "invisible problems" that are hidden behind every click on every load and every streaming.

Prompt for illustrations: The image on one side is a computer screen showing a beautiful modern website. The other side of the reflection is a crater. The factory is releasing the smoke. Conveys the hidden impact of the digital world

Why "beautiful website" became an "criminal destroyed" inadvertently.

This problem is not caused by anyone's bad intention. But it is caused by "ignorance" and "practices" that are familiar with the web, focusing only on the results that the eyes see. Let's see what is the source that makes our website become an avid carbon release:

• Images and videos are more than necessary: ​​we want the website to be beautiful and clear. Therefore upload a large image file By not compressing or using the right format, causing every webpage to use energy to send at a great data transmission
• Complete and complicated code: Using plugin, script from the outside, or disorderly CSS Causing the browser to work harder in processing and displaying the webpage In which all processes use all electric power Try to study the correction. Resources that blog the display (Render-Blocking Resources) more. And will understand how important the code is
• Design that emphasizes the light: The screen shows bright colors. Especially the white color on the OLED screen uses more energy than dark or black display significantly. The use of Dark Mode is more than just a beautiful trend. But it is part of sustainable design The advantages-Dark Mode's disadvantages are interesting to study.
• The Data Center with energy: Server that we rented the service must be opened 24 hours a day and requires a huge cooling system to prevent the device from being too hot. All of which are good power sources

These factors when combined Making a website that looks like a danger Turned out to be part of the global environmental problem, which we had never thought before

Prompt for illustrations: simple infographic images Show the composition of the website (picture, code, video) and have an arrow pointing to the power plant and CO2 symbol to explain the origin of energy use.

If left ... aside from global warming Your brand will also "hot".

Ignoring the environmental impact of the website Does not only affect the world But it also has a direct impact on your business and the image of your brand in the long run in less time:

• The image of the brand that is not up to the world: Currently, consumers around the world Especially the Millennials and Gen Z groups are very important to the sustainability and social responsibility of the brand. Brands that still do business without paying attention to the environment may be seen as "outdated" and "selfish" which can affect the purchase directly.
• Lost the opportunity to make a difference: in a highly competitive market The story of the story "Environmentally friendly websites" can become outstanding selling points and make a difference from competitors. If you let this matter Equivalent to throw away the market advantage
• Higher hidden costs: Heavy and hilarious websites Not only will load slowly and create a bad experience for users only But it may also give you a high cost of Bandwidth and Hosting unnecessarily.
• SEO ranking may be worse: Google attaches great importance to Page Speed ​​and User Experience. The website that loads slowly because of large files and bulky code. Tend to be reducing Which affects traffic and sales. Finally, creating an organization website that reflects the brand and creating a positive impact. Therefore have to look at all dimensions Including sustainability as well

Letting our website be part of the environment It is no different from allowing the brand opportunities and reputation of the brand gradually. Slowly was corroded.

Prompt for illustrations: 2 graph images in the opposite direction One line is a graph showing a rising carbon release. The other line is a graph showing the confidence of the customer (Brand Trust) that went down.

Start at "ideas" to "actions". Change your website for Green is not difficult.

The good news is to change your website to environmentally friendly or Sustainable Web Design is not difficult or far. It is a change of methods of thinking and using various techniques. Used wisely We can start from these points:

1. Design that emphasizes efficiency (Efficiency-First Design):

• Clean Code: Write the code HTML, CSS, JavaScript as clean and as tight as possible. Reduce the use of unnecessary scripts.
• Image Optimization: Compressing images every time before uploading and turning to format, modern images such as Webp or AVIF, which provide high quality, but the file is smaller than JPEG or PNG.
• Lazy Loading: Set the image or video below of the screen. Download when the user postponed only To reduce unnecessary data loading at first

2. UX/UI that cares about the world (Green UX/UI):

• Dark Mode: Design with Dark Mode is an alternative. It can really help reduce the power of the OLED screen.
• System Fonts: The use of standard fonts that come with the System Fonts instead of loading a large number of Web Fonts will help reduce data transmission and make the web download faster.
• Reduce the use of MOTION: Reduce the Animation or Autoplay Video that is unnecessarily because these are good energy users.

3. Choose green technology (Green Technology):

• Green Hosting: Choose a web hosting that clearly announces that renewable energy in their Data Center operations.

These principles are in line with the Sustainable Web Manifesto , which is a guideline that developers and designers around the world hold. To create a clean and sustainable digital world Starting from adjusting the perspective and doing it at these small points is the most important first step.

Prompt for illustrations: Beautiful infographic, summarizing the Sustainable Web Design, divided into 3 main topics: Efficient Design, Green UX, Green Tech with easy -to -understand components.

Real example: When the Organic Basics "take off clothes" for the website to succeed

In order to see more clearly Take a look at the example of the "Organic Basics" clothing brand, which is a brand that gives importance to sustainability as the main heart. They don't just stop the product. But also applied this philosophy on his own website

Organic Basics created the "Low Impact" version of the website. When the user visits Will be able to choose to open this mode What happened is:

• Cut unnecessary elements: Heavy video and script images will be taken out, leaving only the really necessary information.
• Download the information when needed: The product image will not be loaded to display until the user will point the mouse (HOVER).
• Amazing results: They found that this low impact website reduces the release of CO2 to 70% compared to the normal version website!

This case is a good proof that Sustainable Web Design is not just a beautiful theory. But it is something that can be done and can actually measure It demonstrates the determination and sincerity of the brand that is sent to the customers. And make a memorable difference

Prompt for illustrations: Comparison images. The ORGANIC BASICS website screen between the normal version and the Low Impact version shows powerful simplicity.

Do it immediately! Checklist change your website to "Clean" and "Green".

Ready to make your website more environmentally friendly? Try using this simple checklist as a guideline to start immediately:

1. Current carbon footprint: Start by understanding the current status of your website before trying to go to the Website Carbon Calculator and put your website URL. Let's see how much your website is released.
2. Fat operation:
   • Use tools like Tinypng or Squosh to compress all image files.
   • Convert to Format Webp or AVIF
   • Set the Lazy Loading to all images.
3. Sweep the house, organize the code:
   • Check and delete JavaScript or CSS that is not used.
   • Use Minify tools to raise the file size.
4. Review the design (UX/UI):
   • Consider adding the Dark Mode option. If your website has a bright background.
   • Review the use of Custom Fonts, decreases, if not necessary.
   • Close automatic video play (Autoplay)
5. Looking for a new green house:
   • Search for information and consider moving to Green Hosting service providers that use renewable energy.

Just starting from this checklist, it can create a great change. These improvements are not good for the world. But also helps your website to download faster Which has a direct good effect on the experience of users and SEO. Having a UX/UI design team that understands will make this process easier and more effective.

Prompt for illustrations: Beautiful checklist images with icons in each item (such as icons, scales for carbon, image icons for optimize images), making it easy and attractive to follow.

Clear every question! Question-Answer Sustainable Web Design

We understand that this may be new for many people. I therefore compile the most common questions to answer this question.

Question: Environmentally friendly website Will make the website look unattractive Not interesting or not?
Answer: Not true! Sustainable Web Design does not mean to make the website look boring or empty, but it is "Smart Design" is the use of creativity to find ways to reduce resources without reducing the beauty or good experience of users. Simplicity (Minimalism) and efficiency (Efficiency) is a beautiful in a very powerful form.

Question: Creating a web like this Can you really reduce the cost of the business?
Answer: Really! When your website file is smaller The amount of data transmission (Bandwidth) will decrease, which may lead to the longer -term hosting service. In addition, the website that is faster loading also helps to increase Conversion Rate and reduce the Bounce Rate, which has a direct benefit to business revenue.

Question: Must be a developer only, right? To do this?
Answer: Not necessary. Everyone can participate. Designers can choose to use color and layout that saves energy. The content can choose Optimize images before uploading. Business owners can choose to use the service from agencies or hosts that pay attention to sustainability, such as looking for a website for organizational website. That is understood and able to give this advice directly

Q: Customers or users really are interested in this matter?
Answer: More interested every day! Reports from many offices indicate that modern consumers are ready to support brands that express social and environmental responsibility. Communication that your website cares about this is to create a Brand Love and long -term loyalty that cannot be assessed.

Prompt for illustrations: Image icons, question markers (?) And correct marks (✓) with short messages That summarizes the answers of each question For easy and interesting understanding

It's time to change the "website" to "friendly" with your world and business.

At this point, we have seen the same image that Sustainable Web Design is not just a trend, but it is the "next evolution" of the creation of the digital world that everyone has to adapt. It is a way that integrates business goals with responsibility to the world perfectly and intelligent.

The creation of an environmentally friendly website is to create a situation at Win-Win-win is good for the world (reduce energy and carbon release), good for users (fast loading websites, easy to use) and good for business (better brand images, reduce costs, increase conversion rate). "Truly good"

Don't let your website be just a beautiful but heartless business tool anymore. Start doing from today. Use the checklist that we give to use one by one. Communicate your good intention to the world. And you will find that the world investment today Is the investment for sustainable growth of your business in the future

Want your website not just beautiful but "smart" and "responsible for the world" too, right? Consult a team of UX/UI experts and our website development. We are ready to help you create a website that does not only create business results. But also creating a positive impact for this world at the same time

Prompt for illustrations: Powerful last picture Is a hand image that is holding a small tree That is growing With the background as a computer code and a business graph that is rising Convey the growth of business that comes with sustainability

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