FAQ
How does it work?
Sustainability Web Model
Wicked Green Web uses version 4 of the Sustainable Web Design Model (SWD).
To summarize how it works, there are a few factors. The main factor being the file sizes that make up the page. The model accounts for that data across the follow segments.
- Data centers: hosting the page
- Networks: transmitting the page
- User's device: loading the page
The remaining factors include how much of the above segments are powered by renewable energy sources, and site statistics. Those include new and returning visitor ratios, and how much of the site is cached for returning visitors.
Rating scale
The rating scale is also defined by SWD. It uses the global average of 2.4 MB as the pass/fail threshold. Meaning anything higher than the average is am "F", and anything smaller gets graded "A" through "E" depending on their score. The scale is rigorous and is meant to inspire organizations and developers to improve their sustainability.
Why is my estimate different from other tools like websitecarbon or ecograder?
There are a few variables that can affect the estimated CO2 between tools.
- The model: Wicked Green Web uses version 4 of the Sustainability Web Model, which is relatively new. Other tools might be using version 3 or a different model entirely.
- Uncompressed vs transfer size: Wicked Green Web uses the compressed size of the files. This represents the amount of data that is actually transmitted. Other tools might use the uncompressed file sizes. You can see these differing file sizes in your devtools.
- Viewport dimensions: Most of these tools, Wicked Green Web included, render the page in a headless browser to get the data needed. The viewport size chosen for that render can affect the file sizes loaded into the browser. The assets a page brings can vary depending on viewport size. Smaller viewports use smaller images, and some things might not even load in depending on size. Wicked Green Web renders the page at 1440px by 820px.