Carbon Neutral

This is a term often used among green web hosts to describe the carbon footprint of the company.  Carbon neutral means the energy consumption of a particular activity has been equalized in one of two ways:

a) Carbon credits have been purchased equal to the energy consumption (effectively removing the exhausted carbon from the atmosphere through scrubbing or reclamation programs).

b) Renewable energy credits have been purchased equal to the consumption of non-renewable fuels (effectively inserting clean energy into the grid).

Renewable Energy

A major pillar of green web hosting is utilizing renewable energy instead of conventional, fossil fuel based energy.  Servers consume vast amounts of energy both conventionally and kinetically by operating fans to cool them.  In fact it is said that “By 2020 the web hosting industry will be as big of a polluter as the airline industry!”

Renewable energy is defined as any source of energy generated from natural sources which are naturally replaced.  However using this definition – one might say that oil is a naturally occuring, naturally renewing source.  So we append this definition with “Energy that is generated from natural sources that does not produce any significant amount of pollution through either production, generation or maintenance.”

Simply put, renewable energy is wind power, hydroelectric, photovoltaic (solar), biomass, geothermal or biofuel.

Green Geeks

We found a new green web hosting option for you to check out.  Green Geeks claims to be 300% green hosted.  What does that mean?  They purchase clean energy credits equivalent to 3 times their server’s energy usage.  That’s a big step and further than anyone else has gone.  (short of directly powering servers with renewable energy)

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.

A knol on green web hosting

Check this out, a knol written by the editor of EcoHostReviews.com at Google.

http://knol.google.com/k/cyrus-patten/green-web-hosting/

Another update to EcoHostReviews

We’ve gone through a lot of changes during the last few years.  What matters is that the purpose has stayed the same.

To provide quality, objective information on the environmentally friendly web hosting industry.

We will continue this by providing objective, thoughtful reviews of green web hosting providers.  In addition, we will continue to report on the evolving industry of green web hosting, new technologies and eco-innovations.

What’s more, you will see NO AFFILIATE LINKS on this site.  Now that’s refreshing, huh?

Ethical Host

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.

Blue Servers

In their words:

We provide truly progressive web hosting services that include both environmentally friendly and socially responsible benefits. We are completely powered by wind energy and contribute financially to environmental projects on an ongoing basis.

This is one of only two hosts we’ve found that are both environmentally friendly web hosts and socially progressive. Check then out here.

Green Web Hosting Resources

Check these helpful resources out:

• http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/plethora_of_opt.php
• http://davidherron.com/view/green-neutral-web-hosting
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_hosting

Sustainable Websites

In their words:

“SustainableWebsites.com is a project of SustainableMarketing.com – a community of green businesses using the power of network effects to promote their businesses. The more green businesses that host with us, the better the network becomes, and the more opportunities grow for all of us!”

SustainableWebsites offsets their energy use with wind power. They also have a strong back end of sustainability through their other work as a collaborative of green businesses. They offer WordPress, Drupal and Joomla hosting which is always a nice bonus. Plus you know their background in e-marketing will be helpful.

A small company is the best kind to work with as a customer so I would not hesitate to recommend checking them out.

HostPapa

In their words:

HostPapa has taken the initiative of going green by purchasing 100% green renewable energy to power our data center, web servers, office computers, laptops and office space. These energy sources supply HostPapa’s entire equivalent energy consumption into the power-grid with certified 100% renewable green energy sources, such as wind and solar-powered energy.

HostPapa was an early riser in the green hosting industry. Though it wasn’t that long ago – 2006 found green web hosting in its infancy. Hostpapa was there – offsetting their energy use by purchasing the equivalent of 100% green energy. The price is right for several unlimited features – we hope to see HostPapa rise in the ranks of green web hosts in the near future. Check them out here.