Green Web Hosting Providing Clean Hosting Solutions - What are the Choices?
(Page 2 of 4 )
Each certified green web hosting company is eco-conscious in its own way. For some, this may simply involve offering renewable energy credits (RECs); for others it may mean using solar panels or wind turbines to generate their power.
It should be pointed out that not all companies can afford to have on-site renewable power sources, such as Planetmind, Affordable Internet Solutions Online, Vital Bodies, and Iron Mountain. This is why the most widely-used option for green web hosting companies is the purchasing of RECs. So, what are RECs exactly? In the U.S., 1 REC is representative of one hour of electricity being generated by a renewable energy resource. RECs are like certificates that can be traded, sold, or bartered, though they aren't actually tangible.
Some of the most popular green web hosting companies to offer RECs include: Acorn Host, DreamHost, ecoSky, Go Green Hosting, Host it Green, Pair Networks, Host Papa, Sustainable Hosting, Sustainable Websites, and ThinkHost.
Another green web hosting procedure, though not as popular as RECs, is something called carbon neutral web hosting. Essentially, the goal of these companies is to offset carbon emissions in any way they can. For example, the green web hosting company Web Hosting Buzz partnered with the International Tree Foundation to plant as many trees necessary to offset the number of carbon emissions the company produces each year.
There isn't necessarily a "best" green web hosting company; as we've already discussed, they're all different and sustainable in their own ways. Any company that has chosen to go green is obviously better than other providers that aren't environmentally conscious, but picking the right company for you greatly depends on your hosting needs. To determine the best fit, check out each green web hosting company's packages and compare them with your budget.
Next: Canvas Dreams >>
More Web Hosting News Articles
More By Joe Eitel
