What’s the Carbon Footprint of Your Web Copy?

Every year on October 15 (today) bloggers from all over the world participate in Blog Action Day to bring awareness to certain social issues. Thanks to the commitment of Change.org and other organizations, this year more than 9,000 bloggers are participating (including me) by writing about climate change. Climate change isn’t just terrifying, it’s relevant to every person and every industry, even those who write web copy.

How, you ask? Let me tell you …

Many argue that climate change is a natural occurrence and that human behavior has nothing to do with it. While it’s true that our climate does change on its own, a 2008 study completed by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change determined that the current pattern is a result of natural causes AND human behavior.

It comes down to greenhouse gasses and the greenhouse effect. Naturally present gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the environment, which radiates additional heat over the earth’s surface — this is known as the greenhouse effect. The more gasses we release into the air, the more heat that becomes trapped. In other words, we are enhancing the greenhouse effect.

Big industry plays a role in emitting too many harmful gasses, but as individuals and small businesses with simple websites, we’re responsible too. The goal should be to minimize our output and offset the output we can’t avoid.

When writing web copy there are a few things you can’t avoid. For example, your trusty pencil and your computer are necessary.

To find out the environmental damage I do with my web copy, I completed the NativeEnergy Small Business Footprint Calculator. I was surprised to find that with just 300 square feet of office space and one computer I release 10 tons of CO2 every year.

The Carbon Footprint of My Web Copy

Let’s say that in the last 12 months I’ve spent 130 hours creating and updating my site. After doing the math, I figure the carbon footprint of my website is 1.4% of  that 10 tons  or 127 kilograms of CO2. Of course, this doesn’t factor in the time website visitors view my website on their own computers, but hopefully those visitors count for that on their end.

So what’s a web copywriter to do?

How to Offset the Carbon Footprint of Your Web Copy

Pay: NativeEnergy connects you with organizations that are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, I could pay $14 for one wind energy unit or $140 for 10 units, which would offset my business’ carbon emissions for a full 12 months.

Think twice about your no. 2 pencil: Try a Greencile, or an environmentally friendly pencil made of recycled paper, not wood.

Breathe easier: Plant trees, a garden, and ride your bike or walk instead of driving.

Do the little things: Buy a reusable water bottle, unplug your coffee maker, buy locally-grown produce for your salad at lunch, use a canvas grocery bag.

Recycle electronics: Learn what you can do to lengthen the life of your electronics and dispose of them properly. Your laptop and cellphone might be small, but they do big damage in the landfills. Read about the US Environmental Protection Agencies “Electronics Challenge.”

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