Here’s something we haven’t come across before.  They use “mini servers” which generate nearly no heat which means minimal cooling costs.  Perhaps their server rooms can even be cooled using ambient temperatures which would make Canvas Dreams one of the greenest hosts out there.

Live chat is available which is one of our must-have web host features.

To round off their environmental friendliness, you can check their eco-statistics.  At press time, they had offset over 125,000 lbs. of CO2.  We give Canvas Dreams a thumbs-up.  Check them out here. (remember: NO AFFILIATE LINKS!)

Unfortunately, these claims are not valid from our perspective.  There is no proof of carbon neutrality such as a certificate.  Also, beyond using Dell servers for efficiency, they ask you to pay for making your site greener through addons.

Although they make a good effort, we can’t identify Super Green Hosting as a truly Green Web Hosting provider.  Still, if you’d like to check them out for yourself, you can do so here.

In their words:

SOLAR POWERED WEB HOSTING SYSTEMS
The datacentre we utilise for this option is in California east of Los Angeles. The data centre is powered by 120 solar panels which generate all the electricity. The Solar is owned and operated by the Datacentre to power California’s first and only solar-powered hosting company. (please be aware that there is a 10 hour time difference to the US so set-up times are longer and accounts can take up to 72 hours to activate).

Check them out here.

In their words:

First and foremost, our servers, and thusly your websites, are 100% Clean Wind Powered. Clean Wind is 100 percent new wind power. This carbon-free power comes from wind farms here in the Northwest and is endorsed by such groups as the
Renewable Northwest Project, Northwest Energy Coalition and Natural Resources Defense Council.

They go much further than wind energy and promote minimal commuting by employees, offset their employee’s carbon footprints and plant a tree on customers’ behalf.

Check them out here. (remember: NO AFFILIATE LINKS!!)

These web hosts are directly powered by clean energy.  You won’t find any offsets or carbon credits here!

• Solar Host (http://www.solarhost.co.uk/)
• Solar Web Host (http://www.solarwebhost.net) – could be a reseller?
• Affordable Internet Services Online (http://www.aiso.net/)
• Solar Energy Host (http://www.solarenergyhost.com/)
• Taproot Web Hosting (http://taproothosting.com/)

The top 10 list is compiled by evaluating green web hosts on a number of parameters including responsiveness to customers, features, price, website quality and environmental friendliness.

From direct experience, 1and1′s support is far below the standard you should expect from a web host. Our vote: pass on 1and1.

Read more about Greenwashing at The Greenwashing Blog.

In their words:

“Web Hosting must be more socially responsible by improving server energy efficiency which we have done by switching all of our servers hardware to use 43% less electricity. We provide the best green wind powered web hosting in the world to keep the world beautiful.

Carbon neutral means we do not emit any carbon emissions that cause global warming that we do not clean up. Our wind powered webhosting has been revised to be completely carbon neutral.

A renewable energy credit or REC (http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/gpmarket/rec.htm) is what we purchase to offset our carbon footprint, we have partnered with the leading REC provider 3Degrees as they enables businesses and individuals to fund clean energy and carbon reduction projects through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates and Verified Emission Reductions.”

Visit Bounceweb

They take those extra couple steps as well such as eating home cooked meals at the office instead of traveling for lunch.

They offer live chat (a huge support tool) and boast many awards.  Great huh?  Check them out here.

In their words:

I have been fortunate to have been very successful in working within the web hosting industry over the past eleven plus years. At GreenGeeks we have built a superior web hosting company and I would like to invite you to learn more about why we’re better than the rest.

In their words:

EthicalHost is dedicated to providing professional, low cost, green &
ethical web hosting services that make a difference in the environment and
in people’s lives and communities. Based in Toronto, Canada, we donate 10%
of our pre-tax profits to social and environmental organizations. In order
to reduce our businesses impact on the environment, we have partnered with
Bullfrog power to supply green electricity directly to our office. To offset
our servers (and supporting equipment) carbon footprint, we have purchased
offsets from Planetair which supports only gold certified renewable energy
projects. We also reduce in other ways such as telecommuting, using energy
star rated equipment, re-using paper and using only post consumer recycled
paper wherever possible.