| There has been rapid advance in the technologies, | | | | server has to be running, even when the business |
| equipment and concepts that fuel web hosting. The | | | | may be closed after office hours. The initial |
| concept to move on to greener technologies in all | | | | investment for eco-friendly energy sources to run a |
| spheres of business has indeed found momentum, all | | | | few servers may not be feasible. Rather, it makes |
| over the world. It is surprising that web hosting that | | | | better sense to avail of a web hosting service |
| requires a 24*7 networks up and running, consuming | | | | provider, who has enough earnings to set up the |
| an enormous amount of energy that can also be | | | | required equipment and provide for an up and running |
| done efficiently in an environment-friendly manner. | | | | server. The client only has to neutralize carbon |
| These initiatives are now in early stages and are not | | | | footprints generated during office hours. |
| available for a majority of web masters. These web | | | | Another concept that was intended to increase |
| hosts use renewal energy like solar or wind | | | | server efficiency and memory space has indirectly |
| generated power to run their systems. There is a | | | | proven to be energy efficient and contribute to |
| concerted effort in the developed world to move | | | | lesser energy consumption. This is the method |
| towards energy sources that leave the least carbon | | | | known as virtualization, where the memory available |
| footprints. | | | | over a network of servers is commonly used to |
| The hardware is obviously the culprit behind energy | | | | serve websites that may require additional memory |
| consumption. However, this is expected to ease out, | | | | or processing speed. On an average the disk space |
| since faster and cheaper processors are produced at | | | | available on servers are used to a minimum capacity, |
| a quicker pace. The better the processing speed, the | | | | leaving out the majority of it idling away. The |
| lesser is the energy consumed. Faster processing | | | | establishment of well coordinated network of servers |
| speeds may also reduce the amount of energy | | | | provide a compounded disk space of huge |
| wasted due to slower networks and server crashes. | | | | proportions. This avoids the need to install spare |
| Web hosts also offer to provide free operational | | | | servers to deal with spikes in Internet traffic. Utilizing |
| software for clients, who sign up for their services. | | | | available capacity to its maximum naturally reduces |
| The leading players in the web hosting business have | | | | the power consumed by installing another server. |
| taken a step forward, to achieve the aim to become | | | | This concept is expected to become even more |
| carbon neutral. Servers are located at a fixed place | | | | efficient with advancement in processor quality. The |
| and require a fixed amount of power everyday. This | | | | next step is the development of softwares that |
| helps to incorporate systems that can neutralise this | | | | enable quick processing and data transfer. Sceptics |
| demand with a fixed source of energy. The other | | | | argue that better performing softwares happen to |
| efforts include aiming for a paperless office and | | | | be bulky and take up enormous space. However, |
| buying carbon credits. | | | | over a period of time, such softwares can |
| Green web hosting proves to be a boost for small | | | | significantly contribute to saving energy waste. |
| and medium businesses, who have to maintain a | | | | Advanced softwares can simply web design, maintain |
| round the clock ecommerce website. The carbon | | | | and upgrade procedures, thus consuming far less |
| footprints due to the presence of multiple servers | | | | energy. |
| cannot be easily erased by such businesses. The | | | | |