On Green Web Design

As we shift our design emphasis from the typical corporate web sites to the newer Web 2.0, we have found that Green is becoming a popular search term. And it seems to be a popular color in general, both in style and in conversation.

What is so important about Green and its application to the web?

A definition of the context of Green web design has to begin with its association to environmentalism. The U.S. has for approximately the last twenty years been more interested in sustainable resources and practices. This is definitely in relation to the media-scape that occurred with gathering information on global climate change. Surprising statistics for oil consumption, energy crises, and statistical predictions of pending environmental doom continue to dominate news and politics around the world.

So we can safely assume that Green web design is meant to help the environment. But isn’t web design Green by nature?

Seeing as web design is still tied to print design and advertising, we need to see that the implication of any kind of advertising is generally harmful to the environment. That is to say, everybody leaves a carbon footprint, especially those of us trying to reach thousands of people at one fell swoop!

So the idea of Green web design is therefore the neutralization of the emissions that cause global warming and pollution. This is achieved in both primary ways (web creators walking, biking, car-pooling to work, cutting down energy consumption, etc.) and secondary ways by supporting green companies. We all wish we had the choice to do these things, but Green web design focuses primarily on these aspects.

Is FOUNDRY digital design Green? We wish we could say that we were, but we still have to use whatever resources are available to us to get the job done. However, we do support Green design and will hopefully be able to accept only Green clients someday.