Your Guide to Green Web Hosting

• Tweet

• Tweet

What exactly is “green” web hosting? And what’s the difference between “green” web hosting and traditional web hosting? What’s all the hype about?

Don’t stress – we’ve got all the answers in one place. Find out if green web hosting providers really do help protect the water and the air and wildlife – or if they’re really just blowing a whole lot of hot air.

(Photo by Phil LaCombe)

What is green web hosting?

A green web hosting provider is exactly like a regular web hosting provider, only a green host employs alternative, earth-friendly energy sources and programs. Think of it this way: As more and more people get online, and more and more websites are created, and web hosting servers require more and more energy to keep the Internet up and running smoothly.

Most of the energy used in the U.S. (and all over the world) comes from coal or nuclear-powered plants that aren’t exactly earth-friendly: Coal pollutes the air and water, and nuclear waste is difficult to dispose of. “Green” web hosting companies use eco-friendly energy sources (like wind or water) to power their servers.

What does “green” mean?

Not all green web hosting companies are created equally. In fact, web hosting companies claim to be “green” for lots of different reasons – everything from recycling in their offices to generating their own solar energy. Find out how to tell the difference between web hosting providers based on the environmental efforts they promote:

1. Renewable Energy Sources: Sometimes called RECS, renewable energy sources are just a way for companies to purchase “credits” from electric companies. The idea behind RECs is that they help reduce carbon emissions by supporting renewable energy sources – like wind- or solar-producing power plants.
   
   However, this doesn’t actually mean that the company is using green power sources; instead, money generated by the purchase of RECs goes to helping support and subsidize renewable energy. Web hosting providers that actively by RECs often label themselves as “carbon neutral.”



2. Energy Efficiency Efforts: Lots of green web host providers try to reduce energy consumption at their offices and data centers. This can include powering their operations with renewable energy sources, which includes wind, solar, biogas, or geothermal power. But it could mean a lot of other things too, like using energy-efficient hardware as a way to be more environmentally friendly.
   
   Some green web hosts actually generate their own power from wind or solar sources on-site. These companies are rare, but they do exist!
3. Earth-friendly Incentives: Some green web hosts give back to Mother Earth in interesting ways. This includes things like implementing recycling programs, planting trees, going “paperless” in their offices, or employee carpool incentives.
   
   Going with a web hosting provider like that promotes this type of environmentalism really means that you’re supporting a green company – but your actual web hosting services might not be run using sustainable energy.

Check out these related posts:-

1. How Green Is Hostgator?
2. FatCow Goes Green!