Coursework

Did You Know The Internet Has Huge Feet?

Building a website is about more than coding and creating content… it’s about ENERGY.

The Importance of a Carbon Footprint

By: Jaiden Molyneux

(Based on Kettle, 2021)

Each page you click is connected to servers, cooling systems, and network infrastructure, all powered by electricity. Jeff Kettle reminds us that these invisible “clouds” are huge energy machines. His site loads at around 1.3 g CO2 per visit, while sites with a ton of images can use 54 g CO2 per visit. With billions of daily visits, those grams start to add up!

A Message To Remember: simplistic pages not only load faster they help the planet!

What’s Going On Currently?
  • 30  billion devices are currently connected globally, all taking power and space in data centers.
  • By 2025, IT may consume 20% of global electricity and emit 5.5% of CO2 , which ranks just behind the world’s largest polluting nations.

No One’s As Needy As Big Data

An experienced strategist, student, & storyteller

Data centers are what make our internet run and are the biggest power users.

  • They consume more electricity than entire countries, some even more than countries like Egypt.
  • ·Cooling equipment and servers each account for roughly 40–50% of energy usage.
  • Data center power use rose 50% between 2022 and 2023 globally, just proving this trend isn’t going anywhere.
  • These centers are powered by fossil fuels and leave a carbon footprint comparable to the entire aviation industry, about 1.7 billion tons CO2 per year.
Major Players Demanding Energy: Video & AI

(Based on IEA, 2020 / Reuters, 2025)

The rise of AI and streaming has dramatically increased the demand:

  • Between 2020 and 2023, major tech firms saw 150% increases in indirect emissions, largely due to electricity from the data centers.
  • A single training run of GPT‑3 consumed 1,287 megawatt-hour (MWh), emitting 502 t CO₂ which is like burning hundreds of tons of coal generated electricity.
  • Streaming video still contributes around 36 g CO2 per hour.

So, every AI powered chatbot and YouTube deep dive adds to the internet’s hidden energy toll.

Check Out This Video from CBS “Climate Watch”

Here’s a compelling video about the internet’s hidden carbon cost

In a recent CBS “Climate Watch” segment, reporter Ben Tracy investigates the growing energy demand of data centers across the U.S. Especially those run by Big Tech like Google.

Here’s what he found:

  • U.S. energy demand is surging for the first time in decades.
  • Data centers, which home the internet, are a major driver.
  • AI like ChatGPT drastically increases electricity usage.
Quick Facts From The Video
  • A single data center = energy use of 880,000 homes
  • In 2022, U.S. data centers used 4% of all electricity
  • Projected to double to 9% by 2030
  • ChatGPT uses ~10x more power than a Google search
  • Google’s emissions rose 133% in one year


Why This Matters?

An experienced strategist, student, & storyteller

Despite alleged efforts to “go green,” these data centers still rely on fossil fuels when the sun isn’t out or the wind isn’t blowing. That’s why even companies like Google are struggling to meet their climate goals.

What’s the Solution? Enter Geothermal

Google is partnering with Fervo Energy to tap into geothermal energy. This is a carbon free, always on power source pulled from deep beneath the Earth.

Why Geothermal?

  • Works even when sun & wind don’t
  • Clean energy
  • Can reach 400°F at 12,000+ ft below ground
  • Potential to power 20% of the U.S. grid

This is still in early stages, but it’s a major step forward in sustainable internet setup.

Take This Into Consideration Next Time You Search…

Every Google search, every video stream, and every AI interaction don’t just “exist in the cloud”, they’re powered by:

  • Electricity straining servers
  • Cooling fans running nonstop
  • Backup fossil fuel generators
  • Thousands of miles of cables and switches

The internet, as we use it today, has a very real carbon footprint and it’s only growing.

Practical Strategies for Greener Sites

An experienced strategist, student, & storyteller

What You Design Matters

  • Minimalism: fewer images, simpler fonts, smaller files = lower CO2 per visit
  • Solar-powered hosting: projects like Solar Protocol determine image quality based on daylight to save energy

Tech & Structure

  • Choose hosts like AWS, Google, and Microsoft that are progressing toward 24/7 clean energy
  • Use energy-efficient code and caching tools

Content & UX

  • Limit auto-play video and infinite scroll: streaming remains a top CO2 contributor
  • Offer user toggles for low-energy mode like lower resolution or text-only layouts

Why This Matters For All Of Us

Using a website carbon calculator I was able to test my own site’s current footprint:

This extremely high score is due to the little amount of content I currently have on the site, as I add this score will differ.

  • A  site may be lightweight in the beginning, but as it develops and scales up, its footprint grows.
  • Making conscious choices now fosters better habits and sustainability as an audience grows.
  • Plus, users increasingly appreciate eco-friendly credentials. Especially as energy shortages become more important globally.

Here’s A Way To Design With The Planet In Mind

Design ItemWhy It Matters
Minimalist VisualsCuts CO2 per page load
Renewable HostingUses clean energy
Energy Reducing CodeReduces carbon emissions
Stream & Image AdjustmentsLowers bite rates and size of server
User Energy OptionsGives control to the users

To Wrap It Up

The internet is built on metal, wires, and energy, not thin air. But by thinking critically about how we build along with what we say, we can shape a progressive future for the planet.

Simple Ways To Lead A User To Greener Choices:

  • Choose solar-powered or green hosting
  • Optimize images and fonts
  • Offer low energy viewing modes

Your site may earn an A+ now, but true sustainability is a journey. Thoughtful design today builds credibility, improves performance, and supports a healthier planet.

References

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