Case Study:

CO2 Web Emissions Tracker

Project Website

Technologies:

  • Astro
  • Tailwind
  • GitHub Actions
  • Puppeteer

Built in ~72 hours, CO2 Web Emissions Tracker leverages a few core techniques and software packages to help generate and track estimated CO2 Emissions for a list of nearly 8,000 *.gov domains.

screenshot of the final website co2 emission tracker

Inspiration

In an era where digital footprints are expanding at an unprecedented rate, the environmental impact of our online activities can no longer be an afterthought. This project was born out of a commitment to bring transparency and awareness to the carbon emissions associated with website usage. By developing a simple yet powerful interface to display and track the carbon emissions of the U.S.A. Government Web Domains, this project aims to shed light on a less visible aspect of environmental impact, inspiring businesses and individuals to be aware of their digital carbon footprint.

The core inspiration for this endeavor was to bridge the gap between data and action. Being able to understand the specific contributions of website activities to overall emissions became imperative. The CO2 Web Emissions Tracker not only quantifies these emissions – but, also highlights the potential for improvement, showcasing how green hosting and efficient web

design can significantly reduce a website’s environmental impact. By making this data readily accessible and updated nightly, the project encourages a continuous dialogue on sustainable web practices and offers tangible metrics for progress.

This project will remain open source to align with a broader vision of collaborative innovation and shared responsibility (GitHub Project Here). In providing the tools and data necessary for others to engage with and expand upon this work, the project fosters a community-driven approach to tackling climate change. It underscores the belief that collective action and transparency in our digital endeavors are vital steps towards a more sustainable future, where technology serves not only as a driver of convenience and efficiency but also as a steward of environmental well-being.