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  • Forfatters billede: CLAUDIA ERDEM
    CLAUDIA ERDEM
  • 14. maj
  • 2 min læsning

Opdateret: 10. jun.

THE SUPRISING POWER OF DARK MODE

Can changing your screen settings really help save the planet?


In our last post, we looked at five practical design ideas to build more sustainable websites. One of those ideas - dark mode - got people talking.
So, we decided to dig a little deeper.
How much energy can you actually save by switching to dark mode?
And is it worth thinking about in your next digital project?

Here’s the thing: About 60% of the energy use in the digital world comes from our own devices - not from servers or data centers, but from laptops, phones, and tablets.

That means the way we design and develop websites has a direct impact on how much power users need to interact with them.


Enter dark mode 💡 

When Google tested the effect of dark mode in some of their apps, the results were pretty eye-opening. 
Before we tell you what they found, here’s what people guessed in our LinkedIn poll:

The correct answer is, up to 43%.
That’s a significant saving, especially at scale — think about how many people
use websites and apps every single day.

And while not every user chooses dark mode, offering it as an option (and designing for it properly)
is a simple way to make your product more energy-aware.



So what can you do as a designer, developer, or product owner?
  • Make sure your site or app supports dark mode - and test that it still looks great.
  • Consider setting dark mode as the default on OLED devices, or adapting to the user’s system preferences.
  • Think beyond looks: dark mode can reduce eye strain, battery drain, and now, we know - energy usage.



Next time, we’re moving from design to development. We’ve asked a seasoned backend expert to share 7 tips for building greener code  - and some of them might surprise you.
Stay tuned!






 
 
 

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