Internet sustainability focuses on designing and using online services in ways that conserve energy and reduce environmental impact. As a new concept for many, it has the potential to revolutionize the global climate change crisis. Meet Gabriel Dalton, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, who is a young pioneer in the rapidly growing industry of internet sustainability. He is the founder of Oasis of Change Inc., a not-for-profit corporation (Canadian 501(c)(3) equivalent) whose mission is to promote sustainability digitally.
Courtesy of Gabriel Dalton
The Internet's Environmental Impact
“One Google search is equal to turning on a 60-watt light bulb for 17 seconds,” (Newman).
Websites significantly impact the environment largely because they are hosted on servers that run continuously, using non-renewable energy sources like coal or natural gas. These energy sources contribute heavily to carbon emissions, and the constant operation of these servers is essential to keep websites accessible at all times, requiring a steady and substantial energy supply.
How Servers Work
Servers are specialized computers designed to store, manage, and deliver data, including website content, to users' devices upon request. The necessity for these servers to run continuously leads to significant energy use. Data centers, the facilities that house these servers, are engineered to handle vast amounts of data and traffic. Not only do these centers need power for the servers themselves, but they also require extensive cooling systems to prevent overheating, which further increases their energy consumption.
Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Energy
The energy for these centers traditionally comes from non-renewable sources—like fossil fuels—which do not regenerate and emit harmful carbon into the atmosphere when used. In contrast, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power generate electricity without depleting resources and significantly lower emissions.
Global Scale of Web Hosting
The sheer scale of web hosting is massive, with over 1.09 billion websites on the internet as of 2024 and millions of terabytes (about 333 billion high-resolution JPEG images) of data being processed and stored (Haan). Each site hosted on a server using non-renewable energy contributes to the global carbon footprint of the internet.
Shift to Green Hosting
There is, however, a shift towards 'green hosting,' where data centers use renewable energy to power their operations or compensate for their carbon footprint through carbon offsets. Companies like Google have led the way by matching 100% of their energy use with renewable sources since 2017 (Google Environmental Report 2021). Individuals can contribute to reducing this impact by choosing to host their websites on servers powered by renewable energy and supporting companies that invest in sustainable, energy-efficient technologies.
How Oasis of Change Enters the Picture
Oasis of Change's subsidiary Web-Ready develops environmentally friendly websites by optimizing code and using renewable sources of energy to host their websites. Oasis of Change is not just dedicated to promoting sustainability in the digital world; they have collaborated with Plastic Bank (a public benefit corporation fighting plastic pollution), and Tree-Nation (a major reforestation project), planting over 8,000 trees across more than 30 countries and preventing 6,300+ plastic bottles from polluting our oceans.
Oasis of Change also works with Refoorest and OceanHero in their day-to-day operations. These are two free innovative initiatives that are making significant strides in environmental conservation. Refoorest focuses on global reforestation efforts, planting trees to rebuild natural habitats, sequester carbon, and enhance biodiversity.
This initiative works closely with local communities to restore forests, which in turn supports local economies and combats climate change. OceanHero, on the other hand, tackles marine pollution by helping to clean up our oceans. For every five searches made through their search engine, OceanHero pledges to recover one plastic bottle from the ocean, turning everyday internet use into a powerful tool for ecological preservation. All four projects showcase the potential of combining technology with environmental activism to foster a healthier planet.
Courtesy of Gabriel Dalton
Web-Ready works with businesses, nonprofits, and other website development agencies to help promote the concept of sustainable website design. To gain deeper insight into his innovative startup, I spoke directly with Gabriel Dalton, who shared Web-Ready’s vision. “At Web-Ready, we see each website we develop as a vital step forward in our collective journey towards a more sustainable internet. By collaborating with our environmental associates around the globe, we've been able to plant trees in countries such as India, Nepal, Madagascar, Cameroon, Kenya, and Senegal. Our goals for 2024-2025 are to plant 10,000 trees and prevent 1,000,000 plastic bottles from entering our oceans through our environmental programs.”
When asked about how Gabriel plans to achieve these ambitious goals and manage a healthy work-life balance, he responded, “I prioritize focused, efficient workflows and delegate effectively to keep our team of volunteers motivated and productive. This allows us to push boundaries in sustainable web design while ensuring we all have the time to recharge and stay inspired.” This strategy has allowed him to steer Oasis of Change in the right direction and improve the lives of many living in the countries that he has impacted.
For example, Plastic Bank doesn't just prevent plastic from entering the ocean, it also helps provide jobs for people in impoverished countries. Thanks to Plastic Bank's initiatives, people in those countries now have an opportunity to collect harmful plastic waste to generate a stable income.
Conclusion
As our climate faces increasing challenges, Gabriel Dalton and his not-for-profit, Oasis of Change, show the importance of using technology responsibly. They work on developing sustainable websites and team up with organizations like Plastic Bank, Tree-Nation, OceanHero, and Refoorest to create a larger impact. This approach not only helps the planet but also sets an example for others in the tech industry. If you are interested in Web-Ready's work, explore their case studies here.
“The long-term goal of Oasis of Change is to establish a benchmark for environmental sustainability in website design.” - Gabriel Dalton, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Oasis of Change.
If you're inspired and want to help, consider volunteering your skills at Oasis of Change. Together, we can turn our digital activities into a positive force for the environment.
Bibliography:
Newman, Jared. “6 Things You’d Never Guess about Google’s Energy Use.” Time, Time, 9 Sept. 2011, techland.time.com/2011/09/09/6-things-youd-never-guess-about-googles-energy-use/.
Haan, Katherine. “Top Website Statistics for 2024.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024, www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/website-statistics/.
Google 2021 Environmental Report, www.gstatic.com/gumdrop/sustainability/google-2021-environmental-report.pdf. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
