Sustainability in Progress
For the last 10+ years, I have been practicing sustainability and environmentalism on varying degrees—from basic recycling to composting to intentional consumption. Over the past few months, I have gotten the opportunity to learn how to bring those same "green" values into the digital spaces I build.
In the age of AI and high-energy computing, I believe digital stewardship is a vital part of justice. I don't have all the answers yet, but I am committed to these four pillars as I grow:
I’m learning to build "lighter" sites. By optimizing images and avoiding unnecessary scripts, I can reduce the energy your device uses to load this page. I still need to work on image optimization, but there are great options out there that reduce file size without compromising quality.
A recent Ecograder report showed me how significant unoptimized images can be. Seeing an emissions score of 0.77g per pageload was a wake-up call to the weight of my digital footprint.
This website is hosted using GitHub Pages. Because it serves static files, it’s significantly more energy-efficient than traditional database-driven site builders. However, I have used various AI agents to help me learn and understand how to create the specific design look I want in HTML. I hope to soon be in a place where I can make the edits I want without any external assistance, but I am not there yet.
A site that is easy to navigate is a site that uses less energy. Clean, accessible code isn't just about inclusion or conversion—it's about efficiency for the user and the planet.
I want to invest my time and energy to support those doing good for the world. I am passionate about mental health, holistic well-being, environmentalism, preservation and revival of indigenous values, and more. Ultimately, I value people and our ability to not just live a life of survival, but living and walking in our gifts and talents.
Helpful Resources
If you're also curious about the intersection of design and the environment, these resources have been incredibly helpful for my own learning:
Note: I am still very much a student of this space. If you have resources on green software engineering or sustainable digital practices, I’d love to connect and learn from you.