| In the past few years, many in the computing | | | | produced in traditional ways, hungrily gobbling up |
| industry have affirmed their commitment to | | | | precious and finite resources. |
| helping to develop a sustainable world. These | | | | Clearly, not all companies go to the same lengths |
| days, the number of options for Green Web | | | | to provide the greenest hosting services available. |
| Hosting has risen along with consumer awareness | | | | Those that run their services, servers, offices and |
| of the need to reduce carbon emissions and | | | | data centres on renewable energy are much |
| offset energy usage. | | | | greener than those that close the barn door after |
| So many businesses now offer green hosting that | | | | the horse has bolted with dirty energy bought |
| the market has become saturated with | | | | with guilty carbon credits. |
| companies claiming to offer eco-friendly provisions. | | | | Committing to greener business practices doesn't |
| The trouble is that not all companies go to the | | | | stop at using power. To be green also means |
| same lengths, not all share the same commitment | | | | building relationships with suppliers and business |
| to providing the greenest services possible. Due | | | | partners that are also green. What's the point in |
| to these many different shades of green, it's | | | | taking the time and energy to ensure that your |
| difficult for the consumer to know which is the | | | | company is green, if everyone around you is |
| best choice of company to ethically provide the | | | | choking the planet? |
| right technology combined with social responsibility. | | | | If your green hosting company is really |
| When considering green hosting, it's important to | | | | committed to cleaner energy, eco-friendly |
| find out just how green the company actually is. | | | | commerce and ethical business standards, then |
| There are many different ways that companies | | | | there are lots more they can be doing. |
| can provide green hosting. In terms of powering | | | | Using recycle paper in the office, recycling printer |
| the services they offer, there are two main | | | | cartridges and toners and recycling as much office |
| ways that green hosting companies receive their | | | | waste as possible will make an impact. Staff that |
| energy. They either purchase a Renewable | | | | commit to walking or cycling to work also |
| Energy Certificate, which insures them that the | | | | demonstrate their green credentials. The work |
| power they receive was produced in a way that | | | | environment is virtually alive with opportunities to |
| isn't detrimental to the environment. The other | | | | reduce the carbon footprint, everywhere you |
| way is for the green hosting company to | | | | look there's a way to get greener. From |
| generate their own power directly from | | | | eco-friendly light bulbs to composting your organic |
| renewable energy such as solar and wind power. | | | | waste and turning the printer off at night, every |
| Other companies have purchased woodlands and | | | | little helps. |
| promise to ensure that the number of trees | | | | When choosing the right green hosting company |
| absorb more carbon that is used by the powering | | | | for you, there are many different shades of |
| of servers. Of course, this is just a way of | | | | green. Is your green hosting company really |
| offsetting the use of power, but the power is still | | | | green, or just playing at it? |