Sustainability and the environment is a major concern at the moment with many companies taking steps to ensure that they are eco-friendly. They implement policies which are focused on the environment in order to reduce their carbon footprint. This commitment also forms part of many a corporate social responsibility. Plus there is recognition about the increased amount of energy consumed in line with increased internet use.
Going green means using biodegradable products, recycling bins, alternative forms of transport, energy efficient light bulbs and solar panels. But another popular initiative is green web hosting.
What is green web hosting?
This is web hosting which has a minimal impact on the environment. It uses renewable energy, recycled materials and other eco friendly products to help power the servers. Many green hosting companies plant trees which absorb carbon emitted by the servers as a way of neutralising their effects. In this sense they are reducing their carbon emissions which also reduce their effect on the environment.
Green web hosting still offers the same packages that you get with the fully leaded providers, for example FTP accounts, IMAP or POP3 email boxes and SSL Secure Server Access.
Choosing a green web host
There are many green web hosts to choose from but one thing to bear in mind is that it can be more expensive than a non-green provider. This may not be an issue if you have strong feelings about the environment but if you don't then it is a consideration.
Greenwash
You also need to be certain that a green web hosting company is just that. How green is their service or are they playing lip service to what is a hot topic at the moment? This is known as 'greenwash' and means a type of PR spin where a company claims to be green to boost their reputation but is in fact doing the opposite.
The issue of how green a web hosting company is, is your main concern but take these factors into account:
• Customer support
• Ease of use
• Customer feedback
• Reliability
• Free virus check
• Free spam check
• Energy efficient servers
• Price
There is a difference between hosting companies who use green technologies to power their servers and those who have a range of initiatives in their workplace such as recycling bins but still offer traditional hosting. So it is important to do your research and find out as much as you can about their green credentials.
Green marketing
This is the marketing of products or services which are kind to the environment. It challenges conventional practices with the aim of changing our behaviour in order to safeguard the environment. This means buying eco-friendly products, reducing carbon waste and being energy efficient.
Green marketing is used in conjunction with green web hosting.
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