When I was a student, ecological concerns mainly focused on the ozone layer hole and deforestation. The Internet did not yet exist, computers and mobile phones were unknown, and to do research, you went to the library. Pens and typewriters were the writing tools… Those times are gone!
Today, in 2026, digital technology is everywhere. If you can read me, it’s thanks to it. But almost all planetary boundaries have been crossed. It is therefore urgent to rethink how we use digital technology.
Here are my choices to reconcile “2026” digital tools with ecological concerns in my professional activity.
Local and Committed Hosting
I live in France and have chosen a local hosting provider, o2switch, located less than 100 km from my home. This proximity reduces data transfer distance, thus lowering the energy consumption related to the network. Moreover, o2switch uses infrastructures optimized for energy efficiency and favors renewable energy sources.
Green IT and Good Practices
Green IT encompasses practices aimed at reducing the environmental impact of digital technology: extending the lifespan of devices, choosing refurbished hardware, using an ecological search engine, managing emails properly.
- My computer is several years old and sufficient for office use.
- My smartphone is 4 years old, and I keep it as long as it works well.
Beyond this, IT for Green puts technology at the service of the environment, while IT for Good and Fair IT integrate social and ethical dimensions, notably ensuring no child labor in the production chain — an issue monitored by European labels.
Lightweight Web Pages to Reduce Impact
Page weight is a key factor: the heavier a page, the more energy it consumes on the server side and the faster devices become obsolete. Lightweight pages also improve accessibility, especially for users with limited connections, older devices, or disabilities.
For this site, I chose WordPress with an eco-designed theme and a minimal number of plugins, avoiding unnecessary modules. The “mobile first” approach prioritizes simplicity and reduces page weight.
Eco-responsible AI Tools
I favor online tools without subscriptions or personal data collection. Less data to store and process means reduced energy consumption.
- Ecosia AI for answers and reformulations.
Hosted in Europe, Ecosia plants trees thanks to the revenue generated by searches. Its AI displays links to sources, facilitating verification and deeper understanding. - Reverso for translation.
Based in Europe, Reverso is efficient and simple. I especially appreciate its contextual examples of translated words, which help me choose the best wording in my work. - Yiaho for image generation.
This French site optimizes energy consumption during AI image creation with an environmentally friendly infrastructure.
Thoughtful Use of Tools
These tools are digital, without direct human intervention. No need to say hello, thank you, or goodbye…
- To limit their impact, I use effective prompts, which saves me time and reduces the number of requests, thus lowering energy consumption.
- I do not generate images in very high resolution, nor animations or augmented reality, which are very costly for the environment.
- I choose simple, clear images, usable in both French and English, avoiding the need to remake them during translation, saving time and resources.
These choices, combined with local and sustainable hosting at o2switch, illustrate a coherent approach for a digital technology more respectful of the planet, reducing energy consumed at every stage, from design to hosting, to the use of AI tools… Now essential in a professional activity such as the one I have chosen.