30. Minimize data transfer
Why does it matter?
You have probably heard the mantra Data is The New Oil. Collecting or keeping more data than necessary is bad for the environment as it is energy-intensive and results in carbon emissions during the data transmission and storage in data centers. A piece of data travels on average 15,000 km (or 9320 miles). Estimates vary, but some suggest that as much as 80-90% of the data generated by businesses is considered dark data (single-use digital data). Those can make your business operations and products bigger, slower and more costly.
What can I do?
-
Use a “minimum by default” approach when specifications are absent
-
Avoid polling API routinely and consider using REST hooks
-
Use lightweight data formats like JSON and use data compression techniques to reduce file sizes
-
Choose data centers that are located near your users. The shorter the distance data has to travel, the less energy is consumed.
-
Use Content delivery networks (CDN’s) to serve assets such as image files from a network of data centres around the world.
-
Reduce the package size of your mobile apps updates
-
Minimize redundant data and how often you update data. Aim for more user-triggered data refresh.
-
Avoid an excessive DOM size and multiple-page redirects
-
Maximize data processing and computing operations in the back end and minimize front-end processing
-
Connect to a database only when necessary
-
Store static data locally
What does success look like?
-
🧑💰Efficient utilization of data centers and servers for greener operations
-
🧑Streamlined product performance, exemplified by faster load times
-
🧑💰Enhanced user experience leading to improved conversion rates and overall satisfaction
-
💰Optimization leading to reduced cloud expenditure
-
💰Rigorous data security measures ensuring compliance and protecting user trust
Things to consider
We recommend you monitor server resource utilization, such as CPU and memory usage, to ensure you effectively conserve resources. If your product relies on third-party hosting services, assess the hosting provider’s sustainability metrics, such as their energy sources and carbon neutrality commitments. See more in Choose a sustainable hosting provider.