Should I Switch to Green Web Hosting?

This question comes to my mind every time I see any website with a Green Host Badge. In a few seconds, I find myself on Google pondering over thoughts that eventually make me turn away from taking the eco-friendly switch.

My inner thoughts:

• Green Hosting is expensive as compared to your regular host.
• Am I compromising on a quality host?
• How much impact it will make by me going to use a Green Web Host?
• Is it just the badge or they really use Green Technologies?

It’s strange that even after spending long hours on Google I couldn’t make the switch. But with time and my curiosity levels I’ve got the privilege to understand Green Hosting more closely.

• how it works,
• the Green Mechanism,
• harmful aftereffects of regular hosting,
• environmental impact (or lack of it)
• the resources we’ll save by making the switch
• energy consumption
• carbon emissions

What is Green Web Hosting?

All websites are hosted on web servers kept in data centers. These Data Centers can be found in many places across the globe. But, their setup requires a continuous supply of energy for the cooling system, security facilities and powering web servers. Plus they emit a heavy amount of harmful carbon in the environment.

To save the environment the concept of Green Web Hosting was introduced to minimize the harmful impact of these Data Centers on the environment. Green Web Hosting enables the use of using eco-friendly resources like renewable energy to power Data Centers and curb carbon emissions in the environment.

Wind Energy and Hydro Plants are the primary sources of renewable energy that facilitates the use of Green Web Hosting.

Impact of Web Hosting on Environment

Data Centers using conventional methods to host web servers have left a lasting impact on our environment. Below are some facts to understand what we are facing at if we don’t switch to Green Web Hosting:

• A web server produces an average of 650kg of Carbon dioxide.
• The annual energy consumption of a web server is about 1000 KWh
• According to the Department of Energy, Unites States about 10% of the total electricity of the country is used to run of Data Servers.
• In the year 2005, the total electricity bill consumed in running Data Servers in the US stands at a whopping $2.7 billion.
• Average carbon emission of Global Internet equals to the carbon emitted by 65 Coal Burning power stations with full capacity in a year.

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