What To Look For In A Green Web Host
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Wednesday, 27 March 2013
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Internet companies should begin to follow these practices, however, since data centers comprise about 4% of the world’s electricity use.
Hiring a green hosting company will show your community and the world that you are a serious advocate of general health and well-being, especially when it comes to the planet. It will most definitely set your business apart since only 3% of companies are joining in the revolution at this point.
Hiring a green hosting company will show your community and the world that you are a serious advocate of general health and well-being, especially when it comes to the planet. It will most definitely set your business apart since only 3% of companies are joining in the revolution at this point.
Plus, it’s just plain cool.
A few companies that have “gone green” over the years include General Electric, Bank of America, McDonald’s, Starbucks and Honda.
What Is Green Hosting?
Green hosting means companies are using “clean” energy; the actual appliances, like computers, use less energy when they run. Materials, such as the water that cools large hosts machines, is also recycled several times instead of disposing after one use.
Older technology has been thrown out the door and replaced with newer machines that leave a smaller carbon footprint on our planet.
Top Things A Green Web Host Should Do:
- Be “energy star” approved
The energy star logo is placed on all kinds of products in your local stores, so keep a keen eye out for it.
A green host will be using these appliances, meaning they might cost more than if you were using a host company that used “dirty” electricity. Most green companies believe it’s worth the cost of these products, since they know how they mother nature in the long run --which is the entire idea behind the “green” movement.
- Generate carbon-neutral energy
Carbon-neutral energy is produced without huge energy sucking generators and furnaces, which are terrible for the environment and produce tons of pollutants that are set free into the air we breathe everyday.
Many steel mills have replaced older technology with new, “clean” windmill turbines.
- Good Reputation
This is a good rule of thumb for any business you are looking to employ. Go online and check their reviews by other customers. The company website, Yahoo and Yelp are usually good places to check for this kind of thing.
It’s a good idea to ensure the company is reliable in it’s commitment to “green” tech, and you can be check that out by reviewing reputable testimonials.
- Server Speed
Whether they’re green or not, you need to make sure that the host company’s servers can handle the amount of traffic your website will be gathering on a daily basis. If their servers are not big enough for your customers or fan base, then they are not going to be a good choice for you.
When servers cannot handle the amount of traffic they are getting, they will most likely crash. This could be very damaging for your business and could cost a loss in customer base. People rarely come back to a website that isn’t functioning properly.
- Responsible Clean-up
Computers and most computer related parts are full of heavy metals that are very toxic for the environment. Acids like mercury are used to put your computer together and if we don’t dispose of these things correctly, all the toxic matter is released into the earth, only to be later re-consumed by us.
Landfills are full of junk and will continue becoming full of hosts and other assorted parts if they are not taken care of properly. Find a company that values responsible clean-up.
A true green web hosting company will buy energy efficient servers, change the way they are harnessing energy and be accountable for the way they get rid of all their computer related products and parts.
This is a truly huge and noble move for any company to make, but also necessary for companies that require huge amounts of energy to run their websites with services that run non-stop, all day, every day.
Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer, online marketing professional and founder of Gryffin Media. With her experience in marketing she knows that green hosting companies will continue to grow in number, and that green web practices are a major trend that no business should overlook.
