When Software Architecture Supports Responsible Energy Consumption

Rethinking Digital Practices for a Sustainable Future

In an era marked by rapid digital transformation, it’s crucial to critically assess the environmental impact of our digital practices. The energy consumption of applications, particularly websites, demands our attention. Every line of code, every feature directly impacts the energy required to run servers, and by extension, our carbon footprint.

ADEO: Integrating Eco-Responsibility into Our DNA #positivetech

At ADEO, eco-responsibility isn’t just a concept, it’s a core value deeply embedded in our DNA. This commitment drives us to constantly rethink our practices, particularly the software architecture of our institutional websites.

A Holistic Approach to Optimization: From Code to Energy Efficiency

We embarked on a complete overhaul of our platforms, examining each software component through the lens of energy performance. The goal? Maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impact with minimal code impact.

Let’s take the example of our website redesign to illustrate our approach:

1. Eco-Conscious Hosting:

• Choosing an eco-responsible hosting provider: We opted for Hosterra, a company committed to a strong environmental approach, utilizing renewable energies and low-impact infrastructures.

2. Performance and Optimization:

• Web Server Upgrade: Migrating from Apache 2.2/2.4 to LiteSpeed Enterprise significantly improved page loading speed.
• Increased Request Handling: LiteSpeed Enterprise can handle up to 67% more requests per second than Apache, significantly increasing the server’s processing capacity.
• Reduced Memory Footprint: LiteSpeed uses approximately 40% less memory than Apache, contributing to more efficient resource management and reduced energy consumption.
• Faster Response Times: Tests show LiteSpeed reduces page response times by 50% compared to Apache, even under high loads, improving both user experience and energy efficiency.
• Effective Caching: Implementing a high-performance caching system, with Litespeed Cache or WP Rocket for page caching and APCu for object caching, drastically reduces the number of server requests and therefore energy consumption.
• Improved Page Performance: LiteSpeed Cache improves page loading performance by 50 to 200%.
• Reduced Response Times: Object Cache reduces database query response times by up to 20–30%.
• Lower CPU Consumption: Combining LiteSpeed Cache and object caching can reduce CPU load by 30 to 50%, resulting in a proportional decrease in energy consumption and improving the overall energy efficiency of the site.
• Media Optimization: Optimizing images (compression, appropriate format) helps lighten page weight and reduce bandwidth usage (gains of up to 70% in loading time).
• Local WordPress Storage: Prioritizing local storage for media rather than external solutions like Cloud Storage helps limit data transfers and the associated carbon footprint.

3. Code Quality and Best Practices:

• Efficient Application Components: Using modern, high-performance, and sustainable components is prioritized.
• Systematic Object Caching: Reduces database load and accelerates website response time.
• Limited File Writes: Prioritizing writing to databases or object caches instead of disk minimizes energy-intensive operations.
• Clean and Efficient Code: Clean code, free of errors, with clear license management and a ban on certain theme/page builders, ensures better performance and simplified maintenance.

Ecoscore: Measuring Our Impact

To concretely measure the impact of our efforts and identify areas for improvement, we are developing an “Ecoscore” similar to home index for our products. This ADEO-specific indicator will allow us to evaluate the energy performance of each of our institutional websites and guide our actions accordingly.

Towards a Responsible Digital Ecosystem

Optimizing software architecture is just one facet of our commitment to a more responsible digital world. By combining technological innovation with environmental awareness, we aim to build a more sustainable digital future that respects our planet.