In an increasingly digital world, technology must be both inclusive and sustainable. Accessibility focuses on creating digital experiences that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability, while Green ICT (Information and Communication Technology) emphasizes minimizing the environmental footprint of technology. These might seem very different things by first impression but they have surprisingly many things in common.
Accessibility ensures equitable access to technology, enabling participation for all individuals. Green ICT aims to reduce energy consumption, electronic waste, and carbon emissions associated with technology. Together, they can support the development of resilient, inclusive, and eco-friendly digital ecosystems.
However, their goals don’t always align perfectly. For example, designing highly accessible websites or devices might initially increase energy use or resource consumption, such as when building redundancies or providing multiple formats for access. Similarly, prioritizing energy efficiency can sometimes result in designs or features that unintentionally exclude users with specific needs.
There are many examples of where they support each other really well.
Optimised code can improve page load times and performance.
Users with older or slower devices, with limited data plans or in areas with slow internet connections benefit a lot from efficient code.
For Green ICT efficient code will reduce the energy needed for data processing and transmission. Less processing means reduced energy use.
Optimised media means reduced file size. Optimised files load faster and reduce the load on the servers and devices. Faster load times help especially people who use a slower internet.
Being able to use older devices and software ensures access for people who might not be able to afford the latest technology.
For Green ICT device longevity will reduce e-waste and conserve resources that would otherwise go into producing new devices.
More minimalist design that focuses on clarity and readability will improve accessibility for users with cognitive and visual impairments. For Green ICT the benefit comes from fewer resource and processing power requirements. So minimalist design can reduce data loads and energy consumption.
While for many things accessibility and green ICT have the same benefits, there are some instances where they don't support each other.
For accessibility, high-contrast modes, bright screen settings and color adjustments can make text and interfaces much more readable. But bright screens and contrast consume more power, especially on mobile devices. Lower brightness brings energy-saving. With OLED screens, a dark theme will consume less energy than a light one.
Screen readers and other text-to-speech functions help a lot of people to get access to digital content. If these tools are run continuously in the background or if they rely on cloud processing, they can increase the energy demand of the devices.
From the accessibility perspective, videos are needed. A video can be the best way for someone to access content. Videos are also used as media alternatives for text so people can choose which format works best for them.
Videos should have closed captions as well as audio descriptions. This makes the videos larger in file size and thus they require more bandwidth and energy for both storage and streaming. Especially the streaming of videos can result in a higher carbon footprint.
Compatibility with older assistive technology often requires supporting legacy code or adding extra compatibility layers. This ensures that people can access content even if they use an older device or software. For Green ICT this might mean not using the newer and more energy-efficient web technologies and using inefficient code that uses more energy.