An Introduction to Web Sustainability

Many of us have believed that because we’re not cutting down trees, web publishing is by default the “green option,” but did you know that the carbon emissions of the web have probably already exceeded those of the global aviation industry?

At a time when many feel powerless to do anything about global warming, this presentation will be designed to empower those of us who work on the web with the knowledge that we CAN do something — and that the more of us who do it, the bigger the impact will be. The “it” will depend on the context and can’t be a single action; instead, it’s a set of actions, a viewpoint, and a recognition that as people who create and deliver digital products and services, we CAN reduce the growing carbon footprint of the internet. 

The presentation will cover the carbon cost of the web, generally discuss emerging best practices, and tell the story of how the CRDT successfully reduced the estimated emissions from thousands of its web pages; it will also be aimed at creating community around digital sustainability at Yale, and so I hope of interest to a broad range of people who might recognize that Yale has the opportunity, if not a responsibility, to lead in this space.

 

Open to the public