Green Web Foundation is launching a project to make grid-aware websites a common tool in developer toolkits with funding from [SIDN Fonds]. The mission is to achieve a fossil-free internet by 2030 and explore diverse solutions. One such solution area is carbon-aware programming. Branch magazine is an example that changes styling based on UK energy cleanliness.
For this project, they aim to extend learning and build open-source code for developers to make websites grid-aware. Backend development has made strides in relocating workloads based on grid intensity, but frontend developers face challenges. Two existing approaches are client-side JavaScript and dual versions of websites, but they have limitations.
The proposed solution uses modern web infrastructure like edge workers on CDNs to shift grid intensity calculations and page manipulation workloads. They are developing a JavaScript package that retrieves grid intensity information and determines if grid-aware design modifications should be implemented. They stop short of implementing specific design changes and provide guidance and examples.
They need help along the way through a technical advisory group with twelve members and two project leads. The group's roles include ensuring code robustness, communicating progress, and sharing best practices. There are also other ways to get involved, such as being early adopters, participating in a design challenge, or attending workshops.
The approach has several benefits, including enabling grid-aware design without a complete overhaul, utilising optimised web infrastructure, allowing for gradual implementation, reducing device energy use, and potentially running code at CDN locations powered by renewable energy. They will explore measuring energy consumption and will be transparent about learning during the project.