Sorting Our Digital Recycling
I used to think I was the queen of sustainability. Then my daughter got older.
Having an environmental science major home from college every summer meant not so much as a plastic bottle cap could hit the wrong bin. She kept us honest.
This month, we moved her into her new home (a few more states away than I’d like). Watching her go got me wondering how I raised not one, but two humans who care so deeply about the world. It also got me reflecting on how I’m still doing my part alongside them.
But what does sustainability mean to a company so deeply interwoven with the digital world, not the physical one?
Let’s start with AI.
In an effort to reclaim my crown of eco-friendliness, I’ve been thinking about how we can reduce what I’ll call “AI waste.” Proof Digital moves quickly and innovates every day with this technology. That pace comes with a cost (even if my fellow business owners aren’t talking about it).
The abundance of AI use is leaving a real footprint on the environment. Every prompt sent to an AI tool uses tokens, and tokens translate directly into energy.
Luckily, just like we can sort our recyclables, there are a few habits we can put into practice when using LLMs. Choosing lighter file formats and writing clearer prompts can go a long way toward improving AI energy efficiency.
We break down this idea, and practical ways to put it into action, in this month’s blog. Read it below, then check out more of what we’ve been working on.
The Hidden Cost of AI: How Marketers Can Use It More Efficiently
On the Podcast: AI, Marketing, and What Small Businesses Need to Get Right
If reducing your AI footprint sounds good in theory, but your AI efforts are not targeted to begin with, this episode is a good one for you. I sat down with John Overton of Round Table Recording Company to talk about how to treat AI like a new hire, and where I see it actually earning its keep in small business marketing.
On the Podcast: AI Trends, Tools, and Strategies for Small Businesses
Part two of my conversation with John Overton goes deeper on the tools worth your time (and your tokens). I walk through what’s delivering real ROI for our clients right now and what it means to stay ahead in a landscape that seemingly shifts daily.
Save the Date
On October 3, we’re lacing up (literally) as a proud sponsor of the Spirit of Sport Sneaker Gala, hosted by our client RHI at Riverview Health Arena! The RHI Adaptive Sports Program runs 100% on philanthropy, and every dollar raised helps kids, adults, and veterans with disabilities get on the court, the field, or the water. Join us in making a difference in the physical world, too! Tickets are on sale now.
Team Spotlight
Our Director of Web Development, Kristin Kuzik, traded her digital workspace for 100° Phoenix heat at WordPress’s WordCamp US 2026. One of the many things she learned that really stuck with us? 94.8% of top WordPress homepages fail basic accessibility checks, right as new ADA compliance laws take effect in 2027 and 2028. Unsure if you’re part of that majority? Talk to us about building a website that works for everyone before it’s too late.
