Answers
What does a low carbon website look like?
Pretty much like a regular website. It’s the way the content is designed and the code is developed that makes the difference. At minimum, it will have concise content, optimised images, and be built and hosted on 100% renewables. We use a mixture of existing and custom-built tools and algorithms to create a light-weight stack.
What is the Climate Dashboard at the top of this site?
One of the key features of Cape websites is the ability to easily show real-time climate related data. Our plug and play data API's help ensure the climate emergency is forefront in everyone's minds as we push toward a carbon negative future.
We can use the data to adjust web content - if the grid demand is low, high quaility images and video can be shown, but when the demand is high we keep content to a minimum. The dynamic adjustment of your web content helps those with minimal access to bandwidth or low power availability. This is what an equitable web will look like.
What is the National Grid Carbon Intensity value?
The UK's National Grid ESO, in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund Europe, University of Oxford Department of Computer Science and WWF, have developed the world's first Carbon Intensity forecast with a regional breakdown. The Carbon Intensity API uses machine learning and power system modelling to forecast the carbon intensity and generation mix 96+ hours ahead for each region in the UK. The forecast includes CO2 emissions related to electricity generation only, including emissions from all large metered power stations, interconnector imports, transmission and distribution losses, and accounts for national electricity demand, embedded wind and solar generation.
The carbon intensity of electricity is sensitive to small changes in carbon-intensive generation. Carbon intensity varies by hour, day, and season due to changes in electricity demand, low carbon generation (wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, biomass) and conventional generation.
What are the benefits to me and my audience?
Faster loading times and clear, accessible content which means less user time wasted looking for information. In the longer term the carbon emissions are lower benefiting everyone on the planet. Plus you know your web presence is as green as it can be.
I have a green or renewable energy host, is that enough?
It’s a great start, but we can definitely help you to do more by providing an audit of your existing website. Get in touch with us.
Show me the numbers! What data do you have?
In our very first website conversion we reduced the carbon footprint by 82%. You can use Website Carbon or Digital Beacon to check the carbon footprint of your website. invisiblecape.com is classed as 'amazing' - let us know your results!
It’s not just about design, we can change the way we use the web for the better
SEO tools have focussed on ‘dwell time’ - so some web design is created to make visitors stay on the site for as long as possible. We don’t think this is fair or just. We help you give your visitors what they need quickly so they don’t waste their time. It’s kinder for them and for the environment.
Can ultra low carbon websites be accessible AND sustainable?
Of course. For a equitable web we design for accessibility by default.
Where can I find out more?
Have a look through these initiatives...