Many people are looking to make everyday actions more eco-friendly. One of the most impactful changes you can make without even leaving your desk is switching your default search engine from Google to Ecosia. Unlike Google, which primarily focuses on ad revenue to drive profit, Ecosia uses its income to plant trees in deforested and degraded regions around the world. At the moment of writing this article, Ecosia had planted a whopping 218,139,573 trees, and dedicated €89,172,021 to climate action.
Who is Behind the Search Engine Ecosia?
Ecosia was founded in 2009 by Christian Kroll, a German entrepreneur who envisioned using technology to create environmental impact. After studying business, Kroll traveled extensively, drawing inspiration from his time in South America, where he witnessed the effects of deforestation firsthand. Ecosia was his solution to these challenges: a search engine that would generate revenue from ads to fund reforestation efforts.
Today, Kroll leads Ecosia with a mission-driven team based in Berlin, Germany. The company has structured itself to ensure all profits go toward climate action, protected by its incorporation as a B Corporation and its status as a steward-owned enterprise. This structure ensures that Ecosia’s mission cannot be redirected by shareholders or outside investors
But there’s a lot more…
In this article we explore why and how making the switch can benefit both the environment and your online experience.
What Sets Ecosia Apart?
Ecosia stands out as a search engine that goes beyond mere web browsing by actively supporting climate action. Unlike traditional search engines, Ecosia reinvests all profits into global reforestation projects, powers its searches with renewable energy, and prioritizes user privacy. This commitment makes Ecosia a carbon-negative platform dedicated to tackling climate change with every search.
Let’s have a closer look what is behind this search engine.
- A Search Engine Built for Climate Action
Ecosia, founded in 2009 in Berlin, dedicates 100% of its profits to planting trees in over 35 countries, including Brazil, Madagascar, and Indonesia. With over 218 million trees planted so far, Ecosia has created a global tree-planting movement that aims to restore ecosystems, create biodiversity hotspots, and support local communities. In contrast, Google, while committed to reducing its carbon footprint, does not reinvest a comparable percentage of its profits into environmental projects. - Carbon-Negative Operations
Ecosia powers its searches with renewable energy from dedicated solar farms, allowing each search to help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In fact, Ecosia generates enough renewable energy to cover twice the power consumed by its users’ searches. This approach makes it carbon-negative, an achievement that goes beyond carbon neutrality by reducing greenhouse gases actively. - Enhanced Privacy Protections
Unlike Google, which builds user profiles to tailor ads, Ecosia does not track individual user data, sell information to third parties, or keep permanent search histories. By respecting privacy, Ecosia allows users to make environmentally friendly choices without compromising personal data. This transparency is essential in a digital world where data privacy is often overlooked.
Technically, Building a Green Search Engine
Ecosia’s search engine relies on Microsoft Bing’s infrastructure to deliver accurate and relevant results, which gives it a solid foundation without requiring an extensive independent web index. However, Ecosia integrates its own algorithms and eco-friendly features to enhance the search experience and prioritize sustainable content. In 2023, Ecosia expanded to include search results from Google in select regions, giving users the flexibility to opt-in and access enhanced search results in countries like Canada and New Zealand.
Beyond its search infrastructure, Ecosia hosts its operations on solar-powered servers. By producing double the amount of energy needed for searches, it ensures a fully carbon-negative operation, effectively offsetting the energy consumption of its back-end systems.
New Features That Make Ecosia Competitive
Ecosia’s latest updates have introduced a dedicated browser with unique green features. The browser, available for both mobile and desktop, allows users to reduce their data consumption through built-in ad blockers, load pages faster, and access an entirely customizable interface. Users can even decorate their browsers with wallpapers showcasing actual reforestation sites from Ecosia’s global projects.
Another feature is Ecosia’s “green leaf” icon, which highlights companies and websites with sustainable practices, while marking those with high fossil-fuel involvement. This feature offers quick insight for eco-conscious users who want to support responsible businesses. In addition, the Ecosia AI Chat, a chatbot currently in beta, can answer questions and assist users in planning climate-positive actions, giving it a unique edge over other search platforms.
Making the Switch: Why Now?
Recently, the European Union’s Digital Markets Act introduced choice screens that prompt users to select a default search engine when setting up new devices, giving Ecosia a more equal footing against Google and other search engines. As Ecosia becomes more accessible through these choice screens on iOS and Android devices, millions of EU users now have an opportunity to choose an eco-focused alternative with ease.
This is a critical moment for both Ecosia and users who want to make an environmental impact. If more people switch to Ecosia, the platform can plant more trees, generate additional renewable energy, and expand its reforestation and sustainability initiatives worldwide.
How to Replace Google with Ecosia
Switching your search engine from Google to Ecosia is quite simple. Here’s a guide on how to replace Google with Ecosia across different devices in a few very easy steps.
Step 1: Setting Ecosia as Your Default Search Engine on Desktop
On desktop devices, you can easily switch to Ecosia by following these steps:
- Install the Ecosia Extension for Chrome or Firefox
Go to Ecosia.org and look for the “Add to Chrome” or “Add to Firefox” button. This will install the Ecosia extension, making it your default search engine directly through your preferred browser. - Manually Set Ecosia as Default in Browser Settings
- Google Chrome:
- Open Chrome’s settings, go to “Search engine,” and click on “Manage search engines.”
- Add Ecosia to the list if it’s not already there and set it as default.
- Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Firefox’s settings, navigate to the “Search” tab, and select Ecosia from the list of default search engines.
- Safari (MacOS):
- Go to Safari’s “Preferences,” click on the “Search” tab, and select Ecosia as the search engine.
- Google Chrome:
- Use the Ecosia Website Directly
If you prefer not to add extensions, you can go directly to www.ecosia.org and conduct your searches from there.
Step 2: Switching to Ecosia on Mobile Devices
Using Ecosia on mobile is just as straightforward:
- Download the Ecosia Mobile App
Available on both iOS and Android, the Ecosia app acts as a browser and a search engine, allowing you to make eco-friendly searches right from your phone. - Set Ecosia as Your Default Search on Android
- Open Chrome, go to “Settings” > “Search engine,” and select Ecosia.
- Alternatively, some Android phones allow you to set Ecosia as the default search in the main settings under “Apps.”
- Switching on iOS Devices
- On Safari (iOS 14 and later), open “Settings” > “Safari” > “Search Engine” and select Ecosia from the list.
- You can also use the Ecosia app as a browser, which provides all the green features in an app environment.
Impact Adds Up
Switching from Google to Ecosia may seem like a small change, but its impact adds up. With each search, you contribute to reforestation, renewable energy production, and a more privacy-focused internet. Ecosia’s unique blend of features, environmental commitment, and privacy-centric policies make it a powerful alternative for anyone looking to use their digital habits as a force for positive change.