Blackle

Blackle is an internet search engine powered by Google Custom Search. Blackle was created by Tony Heap of Heap Media Australia, which aims to save energy by displaying a black background with a grayish-white text color on search results.[2] Blackle claims to having saved over 8.5 MWh of electrical energy as of January 2021. [3] For comparison, the average American household consumes 11 MWh of electrical energy per year. [4]

Blackle
Type of site
Search engine
Available inEnglish
OwnerHeap Media Australia
Created byToby Heap[1]
URLwww.blackle.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationNo
LaunchedJanuary 2007 (2007-01)
Current statusActive

Concept

The concept behind Blackle is that computer monitors can be made to use less energy by displaying much darker colors. Blackle is based on a study which tested a variety of CRT and LCD monitors. However, these claims are disputed over whether there are any energy saving effects, especially for users of LCD screens, where there is a constant backlight.[5][6][7]

This concept was first brought to the attention of Heap Media by a blog post, which estimated that Google could save 750 megawatt hours a year by utilizing it for CRT screens.[1][8] The homepage of Blackle provides a count of the number of watt hours claimed to have been saved by enabling this concept.

History
The Blackle Homepage (as of January 2021)

Blackle launched on January 2007. During this time, Blackle gained popularity and was featured in multiple mainstream media outlets.

Blackle international, which translated blackle into Portuguese, French, Czech, Italian, and Dutch was retired in 2019. While the International page is still up, every link listed has experienced link rot. As of 2021, the site is only available in English. [9]

See also

References
  1. Moses, Asher (2007-08-01). "Search site cashes in on eco-guilt". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. http://www.blackle.com/about/
  3. http://www.blackle.com/
  4. "Residential Average Monthly Bill by Census Division, and State". EIA. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  5. Roberson, Bobby; Homan, Josh; Mahaja, Gage; Nordman, Larry; Webber, Carrie; Brown, Ricardo; McWhinney, Marla; Koomey, Cainan (June 2001). "Energy Use and Power Levels in New Monitors and Personal Computers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  6. Monitor Energy Information for Energy Star, United States Department of Energy
  7. Weihl, Bill (August 9, 2007). "Is black the new green?". Official Google Blog. Google, Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  8. Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year, by ecoIron. The blog post by that inspired Blackle.
  9. "Blackle - International sites". blackle.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.


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