If you have switched on your television you have probably heard of the saying “Going Green”.  A number of different businesses in industries ranging from automotive to cleaning are advertising green services that are environmentally friendly and safe.  Green companies use alternative forms of renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint on the plant.  With growing awareness of Global Warming, it is no surprise that web hosts are also going green to prove that they are not damaging the environment just to allure consumers and web site owners.  If you have been browsing the Internet and you are wondering if green hosting is all that it is cracked up to be, review this honest information on green web hosting and decide for yourself.

Why is Green Hosting Necessary?

Internet usage statistics show that world usage is growing between 400 and 1000 percent per year.  With more and more website owners looking for hosting companies to host their domains, there has been a growing need for hosts and space.  It takes electricity, natural resources, and equipment to host a website.  The growing demand for hosts has led to a dramatic increase in pollution caused by energy consumption in the industry.  In fact, if statistics stay level, the hosting industry will be responsible for more pollution than the airline industry by 2020.  To cut down on the demand and the criticism, hosting companies are going to green to cut down on energy consumption.

What Makes a Hosting Company a Green Company?

Green hosting companies are on the rise.  With more and more environmentally-conscious individuals scrutinizing the industry’s use of energy, companies are putting a strong focus on reducing their use of energy and natural resources by developing green plans and procedures.  True green hosts implement a renewable energy plan, recycle all of their waste, and purchase RECs to power their operational centers.  Some green web hosting service providers also take part in planting trees and other volunteer efforts to help the planet.  Not only do companies receive a good name in the industry, they also receive government energy credits and other incentives that you should be aware of.

Should You Do Business With a Green Host?

Now that you understand the concept, you may be wondering if you should encourage the effort by doing business with a green host.  The answer to this question depends on the company.  Just because a lot of hosting services call themselves green hosts does not mean there service providers are actually dedicated to saving the environment.  Some companies buy energy credits from other companies to get the green label even when they consume tons of energy.  If you are looking for a truly green company, you should look for hosts with a green corporate culture.  Read the hosts text carefully to see if the host is more than just talk.

If you believe that using a green host will make you feel better about your affect on the environment, choose a company that uses Energy Star approved servers.  Make sure the company has core values you can relate to and never believe a host is “green” just because that is what they market.