I started using Blackle for this very reason (not that I thin it will save the world, but just to further decrease my energy consumption). It is a google-based search engine.

http://www.blackle.com/

Zactly why I is votin fo OBAMA

Dear All,

I thought you might be interested in following this.

Best

Conway

Consumer perception of climate change and its potential impact on business

A global survey from Havas Media

Havas Media the umbrella group which draws together the full global media expertise of Havas invites you to the weblaunch of their global survey on consumer response to climate change.

Webcast Details

Date: Monday 12 May 2008

Time: 3.00pm British Summer Time

To register for the webcast go to http://events.ctn.co.uk/ec/havas/513/

The webcast will begin with an interview on the results and then be followed by a Q & A session.

Details of how to obtain an advance copy of the research findings will be sent to all who register.

Key Facts:

With more than 11,000 respondents, this is one of the largest pieces of research of its kind.

Qualitative and quantitative research across nine key markets - UK, US, Spain, France, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, India and China.

Vast majority of consumers highly engaged with the issue and keen to further demonstrate their green awareness in how they shop.

Considerable expectation from consumers that brands should lead the way in tackling climate change.

Black is not (always) Green Black backgrounds can save some energy if you use a CRT screen (CRT screens are those huge and big screens). If you, like the majority, uses an LCD screen (the flat ones) a white background instead of a black will save energy. LCD monitors are built with a light behind the screen that is always on. So when you show a white page you just let the light shine through the screen. If you show a black page on the other hand the LCD light is completely blocked and it requires more energy to shine through. According to Google “displaying black may actually increase energy usage”.

Thanks for the comment Simon. This is admittedly, as I hoped I pointed out in my post above, pretty much a quibbling point. At this point a black screen is just the look and feel of this blog.

I may take down this post because there seems to be a lot of confusion about this and it just isn’t that big a deal one way or the other.

It’s probably much more effective to use “green” web hosts or otherwise try to “offset” or reduce energy use that way.

Do you have any suggestions in that regard?

www.microtech.doe.gov/EnergyStar/info.htm#display
www.blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2007/05/09/can-a-black-google-save-energy/

As an environmentalist who’s worked to reduce my carbon footprint to less than 5 and who just canceled a vacation to New Zealand due to the impact, I think there are more meaningful things to do than focus on this quibble about the impact of black on CRT and LCD monitors. For heaven’s sake. You have a site devoted to communicating IMPORTANT information. The point is for it to be READ. As a graphic designer my experience is that white on black is significantly harder to read. For that reason alone, I’d consider switching it so more will read the content. Most of us use LCD monitors now anyway.

Sheila,

Thanks for the comment. First, good for you for your effort to reduce your carbon footprint and the willingness to forgo the long flight.
I couldn’t agree more that whether this screen is black, white, or whatever is of little consequence in the larger scheme of things. The original idea may be getting a little lost at this point.
The comment previous to yours (which was just a cut/paste from a blog post) suggested using green hosts or offsetting carbon from the server farm hosting a site. Good points and I do that for this site.
As to the design aspect. When I decided to to this blog this way, my designer indicated something of the opposite of what you say.
That in the early days of talkies it was established that white on black was actually easier to read, and that the military also found white letters and numbers on a black background was easier to read.
I’m not a designer and I am not saying you are wrong. I’m just letting you know what actual research I did when making this decisiton. Granted it might appear stark to the millions of other blogs out there, and that might be a good thing. Thus far I have received very few complaints about this, and mostly along the lines that my assertion that a black background saves any energy is wrong.
I am always open to considering changes and updates to the look/feel of the blog, but I also have to remain true to what I think is best or what I want to do with this.
Thanks for your input.