In a time when there is increasing talk about sustainable development, energy efficiency and environmental protection, we often forget that the digital world also leaves a carbon footprint. Every website, every Google search, every email sent – all these small digital steps together create a big impact on our environment. But there is a solution: sustainable or “green” websites.
What does this actually mean and how can you, as a company or developer, contribute to a more sustainable web?
What is a green website?
A green website is designed, developed and hosted with minimal environmental impact. The goal is to reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency and use solutions based on renewable energy sources.
Digital services are not without their impact. According to various studies, the internet and everything connected to it is estimated to generate around 3.7 % of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than the aviation industry. And that number is growing.
What affects a website's carbon footprint?
Several factors influence how “green” or environmentally friendly a website is:
- Hosting: If web hosting is based on renewable energy sources (wind, solar), the impact will be significantly less than with traditional data centers.
- File size: The larger the images, videos, and scripts, the more energy is used to transfer them.
- Loading speed: Faster websites they typically require less processing power and data transfer.
- Code and design: Efficiently written code and a thoughtfully designed user experience reduce the amount of unnecessary loading.
- External plugins and advertising scripts: Third parties often load additional scripts, thereby increasing data and energy consumption.
Why is sustainability also important for a digital presence?
A sustainable website is not only an environmentally friendly choice – it also brings concrete benefits for companies and brands that want to be visible, competitive and modern. In addition to the positive impact on the environment, such a website also directly affects better search engine optimization (SEO) and overall user experience.
1. Ethics and user trust
More and more users are becoming aware of the importance of sustainable operations. Companies that focus their digital presence on environmentally friendly operations are strengthening the trust of visitors and building a strong, responsible brand. This is often reflected in higher levels of content sharing and quality backlinks - key elements for SEO performance.
2. Speed and efficiency
Sustainable websites are often optimized for fast loading times – one of the main factors influencing search engine rankings. Smaller images, clean code, and efficient infrastructure contribute to a better user experience and improve SEO results. Google explicitly prioritizes pages that load quickly and are mobile-friendly.
Tip: Check your website speed: Website speed tester – easy measurement
3. User experience
A simple, clean, and responsive website means users stay longer, interact more, and complete their desired goal more often (purchase, inquiry, sign up). A good user experience reduces bounce rates – another signal that search engines consider when determining rankings.
4. Lower costs and long-term efficiency
With reduced bandwidth usage, optimized code, and efficient hosting, you not only contribute to a smaller carbon footprint, but you also lower hosting costs, reduce the need for server upgrades, and simplify maintenance. Such an infrastructure is also more reliable and better prepared for web traffic growth.
How to create a sustainable website?
1. Choose green hosting
Find providers that use renewable energy sources or offset their carbon footprint. Tool The Green Web Foundation allows you to check if a website's hosting is "green".
2. Optimize images and videos
Use modern formats like WebP or AVIF. Make sure images are no larger than necessary. Host videos on platforms that are optimized for streaming.
3. Minimize code and scripts
Remove unnecessary JavaScript libraries, combine and minify CSS and JS files, use lazy loading for images and videos.
4. Avoid unnecessary plugins
Each additional plugin increases the consumption of server resources and thus energy. It is better to use built-in solutions and a modular design.
5. Use caching
Reduce the number of requests to the server by storing content locally in the user's browser.
6. Check your site's carbon footprint
Tools such as Website Carbon Calculator or EcoGrader they show you how energy efficient your website is.
Example: WordPress and Sustainability
WordPress is an extremely popular platform, but with so many themes and plugins, it can quickly become inefficient. Here are some tips for a more sustainable WordPress website:
- Use lightweight themes like HelloElementor or Astra.
- Avoid overusing “page builders” like Elementor or WPBakery.
- Clean up your database regularly and delete unused images, plugins, and drafts.
- Enable caching (e.g. via LiteSpeed Cache or WP Rocket).
Conclusion
Sustainability in the digital world is no longer a choice, but a necessity. Green websites are not only environmentally friendly, but also more efficient, faster, and often cheaper to maintain. As a web developer or business owner, small steps can make a big difference – not only for the planet, but also for your visitors.
If you want to check how green your website is or need
EN 
SL