Stumbling upon a well maintained repository of sustainability focussed resources for developers is always a pleasure. Github’s Climate Action Plan for Developers hub is no exception. Set up with the sole aim of helping people to write greener code, there are resources in here for front end and back end devs alike.

I found the electricity maps API and Green Software Directory of particular interest and Wholegrain’s developer team have been happily exploring this hub too.

Let me know if you’ve used any of the solutions here or if you know of similar resources elsewhere.

This article by Nina Whitby at Greenhouse PR goes against the common narrative around AI and digital output in general. We are told that Generative AI will help us become more efficient and increase output. That it will empower us to do more in less time.

According to Nina this ignores the fact that “impact matters more than output”.  Rather than increasing output we should be focusing on the people our communications and content aims to reach. Using AI to increase the amount of content an organisation can create risks losing the tone, personality and human insight that shines out of “hand-crafted” writing.

While you might guess my views on using AI in general, it’s refreshing to see an article like this. Impeccably argued, compellingly written and backed by relevant data, this is the antidote to blindly following the latest GenAI trends.

A connection on LinkedIn recently shared the Opt Out Project with me and I’m slightly obsessed with it.

The site and project is the creation of Janet Vertesi a self described geek and sociology professor at Princeton university. In 2014 she conducted a personal experiment to try and hide her pregnancy from online detection. She wanted to know if she could successfully conceal the fact that she was expecting from the modern panopticon of search engines and social media.

In Janet’s eyes “Opting out is about putting the power back in our hands, where it belongs”. I share her view that we should be able to browse online without being subject to data gathering, dark UX patterns and algorithmic bubbles. We can do this and in the process reduce the environmental impact of our digital lives. It just takes effort.

Following her advice and philosophy makes this journey a little easier.

A candid tell all of the digital landscape and the humans behind fueling its rapid growth. Kara Swisher has reported on the trajectory of tech since the early 90’s, and has been honest and firm from day one. Swisher’s balancing act between insider and critic of Silicon Valley, forces anyone who reads her work to think critically about how we move forward with tech – and more crucial – who’s in charge of it. At points it gets uncomfortable hearing how people actively decided to design algorithms to permeate into our everyday lives and even if you have a mantra ‘Don’t be Evil’ – you can still become evil one day. Despite some harrowing tales, her wit and storytelling demonstrate it’s not all doom and gloom if you speak truth to power – it doesn’t have to stop with Burn Book.

Bailey Bryan – Wholegrain New Business Manager

Don’t forget, we want to hear more from you, the Curiously Green community! If you’re heard or read something that may be of interest, please share any links, and your thoughts with us.

Even better, we’d love to know what you’re working on. If you have any case studies or projects you’d like to share, or new approaches you’ve tried that may be of interest, this is a great way to share with like minded folk so please head over to our submission form and tell us all about it!

We can’t wait to hear from more of you. 💚