A year ago today—on Earth Day 2024—I published my first Dev.to post. Inspired by a mentor who encouraged me to blend my passions for tech and sustainability, I wrote 5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day as a Developer. That post unexpectedly took off, landing in the Top 7 of the week and reaching hundreds of readers in just a few days.

So this year, I thought—why not make this a tradition?

For Earth Day 2025, I wanted to offer developers another way to flex their skills for the planet. And what better way than with a tool we all know and love: APIs.

Below are 5+ APIs you can use to build greener applications, understand your digital footprint, or simply explore sustainability data. Whether you’re building something new or improving an existing project, these APIs can help align your work with environmental impact.

🌱 1. The Green Web Foundation APIs

The internet runs on servers—and servers run on energy. In fact, the average server consumes around 250 megawatt-hours annually, the equivalent of powering 23 U.S. households. Collectively, data centers account for roughly 3% of global electricity use and 2% of CO₂ emissions.

The Green Web Foundation aims to change that by promoting a fossil-free internet. Their tools and APIs help you:

  • ✅ Check if a domain is hosted by a green provider with the Green Web Check API
  • ✅ Measure the CO₂ intensity of IP activity with the IP to CO2 Intensity API
  • ✅ Browse their Hosting Provider Directory to find greener server options

🔗 Learn more: The Green Web Foundation

☁️ 2. Cloud for Sustainability API by Microsoft

Cooling data centers accounts for up to 40% of their total energy use. When you're working with cloud-based systems, the impact multiplies.

Microsoft's Cloud for Sustainability API helps Azure developers understand and manage the carbon emissions linked to their Microsoft Cloud usage—including Azure, Microsoft 365, and Power BI.

This API is part of Microsoft’s broader ESG platform, which provides centralized tools to track and meet sustainability goals across an organization. Perfect for enterprise teams fully committed to the MS Cloud ecosystem.

💡 Bonus: AWS and Google Cloud also offer sustainability tools, though they tend to be more custom-fit and less API-driven.

🏗️ 3. 2050 Materials API

The built environment—everything we construct and maintain—contributes a staggering 40% of global carbon emissions. That’s where 2050 Materials comes in.

Their API provides access to a growing database of building materials, along with sustainability data for each product. Construction teams can use this API to:

  • Compare materials based on carbon footprint
  • Align material sourcing with net-zero targets
  • Make climate-conscious decisions from the design stage onward

It’s a perfect tool for developers working in architecture, real estate tech, or supply chain software for construction.

🚶 4. Walk Score API

Transportation is one of the most emissions-heavy sectors—cars and vans alone make up about 10% of global CO₂ emissions.

The Walk Score API lets you tap into walkability, bikeability, and public transit data for different neighborhoods and cities. Use it to:

  • Promote low-carbon commuting options
  • Build location-aware apps that prioritize accessibility
  • Help users make sustainable housing decisions

It includes Walk Score, Bike Score, Transit Score, and even Travel Time analysis. A great fit for mobility apps, real estate platforms, or community dashboards.

☀️ 5. Google Maps Environment APIs

Google Maps isn’t just for navigation—it also offers several APIs geared toward sustainability:

Infrastructure:

  • ☀️ Solar API: Analyze rooftops and estimate solar energy potential

Environmental Awareness:

  • 🌫️ Air Quality API
  • 🌾 Pollen API
  • ☁️ Weather API

These tools are ideal for developers working on climate adaptation, real-time weather alerts, or even wellness apps that consider local air and pollen levels.

🔗 Learn more: Google Maps Environment APIs

🌎 Wrapping Up

Whether you're working on a side project, contributing to open source, or leading a team at an enterprise, these APIs offer concrete ways to build with the Earth in mind. Sustainability is a systems problem—but developers are some of the best systems thinkers out there.

Let’s code a greener future, one API at a time.

Have a favorite sustainability-related API I missed? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to keep expanding this list!

Happy Earth Day 💚