Green Web Hosting

What Types of Energy Use Are Involved in Web Hosting?

Web hosts run datacenters that require enormous amounts energy to power their web servers, routers, modems, cooling systems, security and fire-suppression systems, and back-ups. All of this is very energy intensive, and because they don't see it, people who use web hosting may consider only their own, fairly minor use when they're thinking of how they're treating the environment. 

What Is Green Web Hosting? 

Green web hosting is provided by hosts who take a variety of steps to make their business environment-friendly. This can include the use of alternative or renewable energy to power their enterprise; using carbon footprint offset strategies, such as planting trees; recycling waste; and purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), whether or not they use them themselves. They may also seek equipment that is more efficient. GreenGeeks quotes an estimate that the web hosting industry will be polluting as much as the airline industry by 2020 if something doesn't change.

Because their focus is to provide services in a particular way, rather than placing economics first, green website hosting is likely to be more costly than other web hosting. In addition, some web hosting companies may be more green than others. While a growing number of web hosts claim to be 100% green, GreenGeeks outdoes them at the moment, by replacing with wind power 3 times the amount of power they use, making them, in their words "300% green." 

Why Is Green Web Hosting Desirable?

With concerns about the environment and carbon emissions, people in businesses that use a lot of energy - either directly at their place of business or offsite through their employees' transportation, their webhosting, etc. - may wish to make an explicit effort to both reduce and offset their own carbon footprint. 

A different point, but equally valid, is the desire to choose a mode of hosting that may be in keeping with the values of the enterprise one is engaged in or is likely to be inspiring to one's existing or desired customer base, or both. For example, a health food store, a hybrid car dealership, and other enterprises that bespeak environmentally-concerned owners may benefit their images by choosing green web hosting and letting it be known that they've done so. Even businesses in industries that are not specifically tied to those issues - photographers, toy makers, or software developers - may find that if their customers are choosing between their business and another, the fact that they have chosen green web hosting may be a persuasive factor for the potential customer with environmental awareness. 

How Do You Find Green Web Hosting? 

Because green web hosting is fairly new, business owners who wish to find green web hosting may not know exactly what to look for. Here are some of the phrases that can help you identify a green web host

• green hosting
• wind-powered hosting
• eco-friendly hosting
• solar powered hosting
• solar/wind powered hosting
• carbon neutral host

Sources 

apps3.eere.energy.gov

greengeeks.com