Apr 01 2008
Google vs. Blackle..
Going online and searching on Google to look for information is a common habit that everyone does. But little do people know that Google isn’t a very caring search engine…for the environment. A group of 5th graders told me that Google actually consumes different amounts of energy. In fact, they use alot of energy. This is because Google’s pages contains many colors. One of the most energy-consuming color is white. The background for Google is plainly white and therefore, the simplest colors play a huge part in the environment.
Blackle, a similar search engine, has pages that do not contain many colors. The site is mostly black with light or dark shades. According to researchers, the reason why the color black is much more better is because it is the most energy-sufficent color used in computers, TV’s and many other electronics. That is why your TV, cellphone or computer screens turn black when you turn it off. In one year, Blackle could save 750 megawatt-hours a year. That is the same as ten thousand 100 watt light bulbs burning for 1 hour! :O This search engine counts how many watts are saved everytime.
Blackle is still developing to be as superior as Google. It lacks other things Google has. For examples such as image search, video search and more. Although this is the weakest strength Blackle carries, the process of searching the web is no different than many other search engines.
This is a very simple habit to start; go to Blackle to search the web instead of Google. Finding pictures and videos aren’t found in Blackle though. This energy-sufficent website is surely more Earth-friendly than many other sites you would find. Changing your usual search engine for searching the internet isn’t much to ask. Try to make this a habit…
The Blackle Homepage
-Nabila
Very interesting, but i have a question. Did google create this blackle search or is blackle a part of google?
Well.. Google and Blackle are created by the same company. But there are still huge differences between them. I hope alot more people use Blackle
Oh, wow.
I never realized that a simple colour like white uses energy.
There’s a lot of science to it..
I’m pretty sure that in time Blackle will establish an image & video search.
Yeah, the first thing I noticed is that Blackle has Google’s trademark. The first thing that we have to remember is that Google is a company. Google buys an awful lot of websites that are popular and stand to make a lot of money: for example, YouTube.
Blackle is most probably owned and operated by Google. Either way, you are funding Google. Using Blackle helps the environment and for all means, use that to help conserve our energy but when it comes to taking companies like Google down a notch or two with the concept of “they are the giant purple flying energy eaters”, we’ll have to come up with something else. Come to think of it, this is probably one of those “Look, we’re environmentally aware!” plans that companies come up with.
But, as I’ve said before, Blackle is a great alternative to using energy with searching with white as a background but I’ve never even heard of it. Publicity is what Blackle needs right now.
It’s an idea though, and one that I’m going to think about. Now, just to add Blackle to my favorites list …
Yo, wicked awesomke monkey dude here.
I think it is amazing how such a simple change on the softscreen can actually contribute to lowering our economic footprint. More webs should do this, changing there color to darker colors. I think I might talk to Bam Bam to changing the blurb’s color’s.
But one thing, I just wonder why all websites don’t just make that simple change. Us, even you guys, even youtube! This is a change we should all be willing to make!
Yours truely,
The wicked awesome monkey dude
There are around 25 different versions of “black google” online. The best one I’ve found is www.cleanblack.com. Cleanblack is the only version that allows you to change the text colors of the google search results. Try it yourself by going to www.cleanblack.com/theme/