Is the Internet really a green solution or are we being fooled?
From the #GreenMelon column
Did you know that surfing the Internet pollutes as much as taking a flight? 🤨
Aaaaand that’s right, web usage contributes about 3.7% of global CO2 emissions, roughly the equivalent of the entire aviation industry. A "typical" website can produce up to 5 grams of CO2 per page view, while more complex or poorly optimized sites can hit 20 grams【1】【2】. In other words, we’re talking about emissions on the scale of a Texas-sized worldwide barbecue—minus the food. Truly disappointing.
Green hosting: promise or marketing hype?
Many hosting providers call themselves “green,” but behind the scenes, questionable practices lurk:
Green certificates and greenwashing: Some simply buy renewable energy credits without actually improving their infrastructure. It's like taking a bath with organic soap and then rolling in a mud puddle 【3】.
Creative offsets: Reforestation in remote areas or unverifiable investments often mask a still significant environmental impact 【4】.
That said, there are genuinely eco-conscious providers like GreenGeeks, Kualo, and Eco Web Hosting, which use real renewable energy and high-efficiency infrastructure. And no, I’m not being sponsored to say this—it’s just free advertising, badly executed, as always.
So, what can you do?
If you have a website or you are planning to create one, here are the best practices to make it more sustainable (and less guilty of crimes against humanity and the planet):
Choose a truly green hosting provider: Ensure the company uses certified renewable energy and has a clear emissions policy.
Optimize your website: Shrink image sizes, eliminate unnecessary scripts, and streamline navigation. This not only reduces environmental impact but also improves user experience 【5】.
Measure your impact: Tools like Website Carbon Calculator can help you figure out how much “weight” your site adds to the planet.
Cut the clutter: If your site has more pop-ups than a carnival, it’s time for a digital declutter.
Work with sustainability-conscious professionals: Collaborate with designers or agencies that can guide you toward the right choices and develop a truly sustainable digital product. Experts in this field can help you avoid heavy, unnecessary elements while delivering a lightweight, functional, and goal-aligned website.
Building a sustainable website is not only possible, it can actually become a strength for your brand. You can choose to communicate this strategic decision as part of your online presence, making it more responsible than before.
Sources:
Global Carbon Atlas – Internet's Global CO2 Emissions (3.7% global data).
Website Carbon Calculator – Per Page Visit CO2 Estimates.
Greenpeace – Clean Cloud Report (data on green certificates and greenwashing).
Carbon Offset Guide – Effectiveness of Carbon Offsetting Projects.
W3C – Best Practices for Sustainable Web Development.
Very interesting reading.