Toward a Holistic Conceptualization of Green Coding: A Multi-Level Perspective on Sustainable Software Practices

The rising use of information and communication technology (ICT) is contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs), with projections indicating further growth. As ICT systems are software-driven, improving software energy efficiency through green coding has become more important. However, research on green coding remains disintegrated, focusing mainly on tools, green coding practices, implementation in specific phases of the software development life cycle (SDLC), and specific application domains. This paper addresses the conceptual gap by offering a multi-level conceptualization of green coding through the theoretical lens of responsible innovation, sociotechnical systems theory, organizational theory, and institutional theory. Our conceptual framework highlights how technical skills, sustainability mindsets, and ethical values influence the adoption of green coding, shaped by internal organizational dynamics and external institutional pressures. It also explores how green coding has varying impacts across application domains. We propose three propositions and offer a foundation for advancing sustainable software development.