Sustainable Web Design: How Public Sector Websites Can Go Green

The internet might feel like an invisible force, but behind every website is a network of energy-hungry data centres, servers, and devices keeping it online.

For public sector organisations, having a website is essential – but have you ever thought about its environmental impact? Every website uses electricity, and inefficient websites use a lot more than they need to.

At Her Web Solutions, we believe digital services should be fast, accessible, and secure – but also sustainable. In this post, we’ll break down how public sector websites can become more environmentally friendly without sacrificing performance or usability.

Why Should Public Sector Websites Be More Sustainable?

Most people don’t associate websites with carbon emissions, but the numbers might surprise you:

• The internet contributes to nearly 4% of global carbon emissions, more than the entire airline industry.
• Websites rely on data centres, which consume massive amounts of energy to store and deliver online content.
• Slow, bloated websites use more resources than necessary, wasting energy every time someone loads a page.

For councils, NHS trusts, and other public sector organisations working towards net zero goals, making digital services greener is an important step forward.

The good news? Sustainable web design isn’t just better for the planet – it also makes websites faster, more efficient, and easier to use.

How Public Sector Websites Can Be More Sustainable

Switch to Green Web Hosting

Not all hosting providers are equal. Many rely on energy-intensive data centres powered by fossil fuels. A simple switch to a green hosting provider can dramatically reduce your website’s environmental impact.

Look for hosting providers that:

• Use 100% renewable energy
• Have carbon-neutral data centres
• Hold certifications like ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)

At Her Web Solutions, we help public sector organisations choose eco-friendly hosting that meets security, compliance, and performance requirements.

Optimise Website Speed and Performance

A slow website isn’t just annoying for users – it also consumes more energy. The longer a site takes to load, the more power it pulls from servers and devices.

Here’s how we make websites more efficient:

• Compressing images so they load faster without losing quality
• Removing unnecessary code and scripts that slow things down
• Using lazy loading so pages only load content when needed
• Implementing browser caching to reduce redundant data transfers

When a website is built properly, it doesn’t just perform better – it also requires less energy to run, making it cheaper and greener.

Reduce Data Usage and Heavy Features

Many websites are unnecessarily complex, packed with features that look impressive but aren’t actually useful.

The more data your website loads, the more energy it consumes. You can make your website greener by:

• Cutting autoplay videos and energy-heavy animations
• Reducing third-party tracking scripts that slow down pages
• Using lightweight frameworks instead of bloated website builders
• Offering dark mode options, which consume less energy on OLED screens

At Her Web Solutions, we take a lean approach to web design. Everything on your website should serve a purpose – no unnecessary extras.

Make Accessibility and Sustainability Work Together

There’s a big overlap between sustainable websites and accessible design.

A well-built, accessible website loads faster, works on older devices, and is easier to navigate. This benefits everyone – including users with disabilities, those with slow internet connections, and your organisation’s carbon footprint.

We follow WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines to ensure websites are:

• Simple to navigate
• Optimised for screen readers
• Fast-loading and efficient

A greener website should also be an inclusive one.

Encourage Sustainable Digital Practices

Sustainable web design isn’t just about the website itself, it’s also about how people use it. Public sector websites can promote sustainability by:

• Encouraging paperless processes (e.g., online forms instead of PDFs)
• Using interactive dashboards instead of downloadable reports
• Prioritising email communication over printed letters

By making these small shifts, organisations can cut waste, save costs, and reduce environmental impact.

Sustainability is the Future of Public Sector Websites

The public sector is moving towards digital transformation, but that transformation should be sustainable. By making simple changes – like switching to green hosting, optimising performance, and reducing unnecessary data use – public sector websites can be faster, more accessible, and more environmentally friendly.

At Her Web Solutions, we help local councils, NHS trusts, and public sector organisations build secure, efficient, and sustainable websites.

If you’d like to find out how your website can go green, let’s talk. Email us at hello@herwebsolutions.com

Sustainable web design isn’t a trend, it’s a responsibility. By taking small but meaningful steps, public sector organisations can lead the way in digital sustainability, improving both the environmental impact and user experience of their websites.

At Her Web Solutions, we believe good web design should work for people and the planet. If you're ready to make your website faster, greener, and more efficient, get in touch.