Your websites will be up and running, only if the web servers at your hosting company work continuously, at all times. It means that they will need uninterrupted supply of electric power to keep them running. Data centers generally house several web servers at a time, which is why they consume a lot of electricity.
With growing pollution levels and climate change, the time has come for web hosting companies to utilize greener sources of energy for running their web servers. Going forward, that will be the way for hosting companies to ensure nonstop power supply, but without impacting the environment adversely.
About Green web hosting
Basically a green web hosting company will implement all the different possibilities to reduce the environmental pollution for running their operations. In most cases they will use electricity that is generated from renewable resources like solar and wind.
In addition to using renewable energy sources, they also adopt green policies for disposing of waste, and preventing the usage of substances that emit harmful toxins to the environment. They take all possible measures to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible.
Countries like Iceland are championing the cause of renewable energy initiatives, and are currently producing maximum energy off the grid. The climatic conditions of the country also make it very favorable for establishing secure data centers. That is why there is a high demand for dedicated servers in Iceland.
Green web hosting
Green web-hosts pledge never to exceed the prescribed usage of energy, and they get certified for the same. These certificates state their mission towards the reducing and eliminating of carbon emissions. The certificate is awarded to them for using renewable energy sources such as wind power, hydroelectricity, solar power, and also for their tree plantation initiatives.
Green web hosting service providers also use ‘energy star’ approved or energy efficient servers and hardware to bring down their power consumption.
How to check that your service provider is a green web-hosting company?
Not all the web hosting companies follow the green initiatives, even if they display a green badge on their website. Many of them can claim to be green on their websites, but checking a few things will help you get the real picture.
- Check their authenticity by viewing their REC certificates
- Read their policy statements carefully
- See if they mention anything about using energy efficient ‘5 Star rated’ servers that reduce power consumption
Advantages of Green Hosting
- Environment friendly – By lowering the carbon footprint, it helps in reversing the impact of global warming and protects the environment. They provide a cleaner environment that is absolutely free of harmful chemicals.
- Affordable service – Green web hosts use renewable sources of energy, which work out to be cost effective in the long run. Hence, they can provide their services for lesser costs.
- Awareness – They also bring about awareness about reducing pollution, by walking that path themselves.
Types of green web hosting service
There are several types of web hosting types, and you will need to choose them as per your business requirements and budgets.
2 of the most popular ones are:
Dedicated secure server hosting
If you want the best security protection for your website, then you should go for the dedicated servers. In this type, your service provider will reserve a physical server just for your hosting needs, and the server space will not be shared with any other companies.
Shared secure server hosting
Shared hosting is an ideal hosting solution for websites with limited budgets. Make sure you buy shared servers only from dependable hosting companies, because they will provide good stability and security to your account.
As multiple websites share the same server, the level of security offered to a website can be less than that in a dedicated hosting service. However, top companies provide 99.9% even on shared hosting services.
