Back in October of 2022, I wrote a blog post on the-sustainable.dev with this title. It was at a time when carbon aware websites were just beginning to be discussed in earnest. Shortly after I reposted an article on the same subject.
The post I had written was quite pessimistic and did not paint the idea of a carbon-aware web all that well.
It’s Always not so sunny in Philadelphia*
At first glance, the carbon aware web all sounded great. Shift the compute workload onto server locations that had the most sun, wind or water-based clean energy. Potentially lowering the footprint of the web in a programmatic, technical method. Tech solving techs’ problems. Sounds idyllic doesn’t it?
However, I had fears that similar methods were beginning to be implemented by big businesses like Microsoft and Apple without really testing the theory and scale. I contemplated the idea that, like the jevons paradox, it would actually mean we use the web more. I was concerned that we would simply shift the workload onto whichever country had the most clean energy, with no real thought to whether their national grid or systems could handle it, or whether indeed, it was even ethical or lawful to do that.
What is the point of this story?
Well, a few years have now passed. I didn’t actually post the aforementioned blog. At the time, I felt like I was the only one with a pessimistic view of the whole thing, so, I kept quiet. With hindsight, I believe that was the wrong thing to do.
An exciting new venture
Over time, my view has changed, at least somewhat. I see the overwhelming benefits that a carbon aware web could have. If done in the right way, with the right techniques.
With that change in mindset, and a wonderful invitation landing in my inbox, I’m excited about joining a new project that I can talk more about very soon.
I’m looking forward to delving deeper, learning alongside others and ultimately creating something useful – that could have a massive positive impact on the world.
In a nutshell. Watch this space. I will be posting about the journey and learnings as things progress over the coming months.
* A play on the title of an American sitcom I was watching at the time of the original post.