Blackle
Type of site
Search engine
Available inEnglish
OwnerHeap Media Australia
Created byToby Heap[1]
URLwww.blackle.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationNo
LaunchedJanuary 2007; 17 years ago (2007-01)
Current statusActive

Blackle is an internet search engine powered by Google Programmable Search Engine. It was created by Tony Heap of Heap Media Australia with the goal of saving energy by displaying a black background with grayish-white text color on search results.[2] As of July 2023, Blackle claims to have saved over 10.07 MWh of electrical energy.[3]

Concept

The concept behind Blackle is that computer monitors can use less energy by displaying darker colors. Blackle's design is based on a study that tested a variety of CRT and LCD monitors. However, the energy-saving claims, especially for users of LCD screens with a constant backlight, are disputed.[4][5][6]

This concept was brought to the attention of Heap Media by a blog post, estimating that Google could save 750 megawatt hours a year by using it for CRT screens.[1][7] 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 in 2007
The Blackle Homepage (as of April 2007)

Blackle launched in January 2007, gaining popularity and being featured in multiple mainstream media outlets during that time.[citation needed]

Blackle International, which translated Blackle into Portuguese, French, Czech, Italian, and Dutch, was retired in 2019. The International page still exists, but every link listed has experienced link rot. As of 2021, the site is only available in English.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Moses, Asher (2007-08-01). "Search site cashes in on eco-guilt". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. ^ "About Blackle - Energy Saving Search".
  3. ^ "Home". blackle.com.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Monitor Energy Information Archived 2009-12-12 at the Wayback Machine for Energy Star, United States Department of Energy
  6. ^ Weihl, Bill (August 9, 2007). "Is black the new green?". Official Google Blog. Google, Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  7. ^ Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year, by ecoIron. The blog post that inspired Blackle.
  8. ^ "Blackle - International sites". blackle.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.

External links

Web search engines
Categories