web hosting

Fasthosts Takes on a New Green Initiative

Green web hosting services are emerging as more companies come to realize the negative affect data centers of the world have on the environment.  Some of the industry’s biggest names are making the switch to green energy, a trend that is being seen throughout North America and Europe as well.

Based in the United Kingdom, reseller hosting provider Fasthosts is actively participating in a green initiative to reduce its impact on the environment.  The move is said to ensure that all web hosting services will be run out of a green data center, making it the only provider that offers unlimited green reseller hosting solutions.

On Tuesday February 17, Fasthosts was announced as being a part of United Internet’s Global Green Initiative, a program that uses renewable energy to prevent an estimated 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment.  Additionally, Fasthosts is deemed a certified green host by Green-e, a voluntary non-profit certification organization that specializes in programs for renewable energy.  The UK reseller host also announced that it would be purchasing  enough RECs (renewable energy credits) from the non-profit BEF (Bonneville Environmental Foundation) to entirely offset electricity usage at its data center located in Kansas.

Steve Holford, Chief Marketing Officer at Fasthosts, says it is important for the company to deliver its resellers a service that allows them to succeed.   Holford’s statement also touched on how environmentally hosting products and services are in great demand, leading to the provider’s decision to offer customers the ability to sell their own green hosting packages at no additional cost.  Aside from being a valuable selling point for resellers, Fasthosts prides itself on being a company that is running an environmentally responsible service.

Many companies are boasting green hosting but not all are making the efforts required to run an eco-friendly service.  In fact, several web hosts simply offset their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in green initiatives in other locations, ultimately facing criticism for merely paying someone else to pollute the environment.  The Fasthost partnership with BEF gives the assurance that revenue generated from RECs provides direct support for new watershed ecosystem restoration and renewable energy projects.  According to an October announcement, the majority of the RECs will be contributed to the Power Company and Bowersock Mills facilities in Lawrence, Kansas.

Considered a veteran in the industry, Fasthost has being serving small and medium sized businesses in the UK for nearly 10 years, making it one of the largest providers in the region.  The company launched its service in the United States back in September of 2008, hoping to use its market experience to garner success in North America.  Fasthosts claims that its U.S. customers are provided with around the clock service as well as localized support agents that can be reached via phone or email.  All of its U.S. customers get the benefit of the provider’s state of the art green data facility in Lenexa, Kansas and an infrastructure that delivers 30 gigabit high-speed internet connectivity.

The Emergence of Green Web Hosting

Few ever believed the internet would explode into its current state of popularity.  Everyone from young to old is signing online to surf the web – communicating, shopping and seeking out entertainment.  At the same time, millions of people are creating websites in attempt to meet the needs of visitors across the globe.  A webmaster can’t reach their niche market without servers and the associated hardware found in today’s data centers.  In order to keep the web thriving, providers must use tons of electricity, contributing to the environmental concerns plaguing the earth today.  Data centers are located throughout the world, most of them allowing CO2 among other harmful emissions to pollute the atmosphere.  To reduce data center emissions and help preserve the earth, a number of web hosing companies have opted to go green.

The Power Behind Green Hosting

Green web hosting was scarce a few years ago, however, recently this type of web hosting has come into the limelight.  There are a handful of companies who started off 100% green while others have gradually converted.  Even some of the most widely known providers have made the switch to offer a more eco-friendly web hosting product.  Many begin in the office by recycling waste paper and utilizing bio-fuel for heating purposes.  This leads to the data centers where servers thrive off alternative sources such as wind, solar and geothermal energy.  Some have went out and purchased RECs (Renewable Energy Credits), a certification which assures the company is using alternatives forms of power.

Slowly but surely, the web hosting industry is making the transition to more efficient operations.  There are a few companies that go far and beyond to make sure they deliver green hosting.  For example, Green Web Hosting is one host that encourages its employees to telecommute in attempt to reduce pollutants caused by everyday transportation.  Some run an entirely paperless service to cut back on the unnecessary usage of trees.  Others will actually plant a new tree for each new customer they sign up.  Many of them will also offer discounts to customers who aid in environmental causes with their websites.  Green web hosting emerged from nowhere to become the preferred choice for an increasing amount of people.

Reliability and Performance

There are some who question the performance and overall reliability you receive with a green web hosting platform.  In actuality, renewable energy is proven to be just as reliable and effective as conventional electricity.  Green hosts are successfully running their businesses just as everyone else is.  Like the traditional provider is equipped with electrical backup sources, these companies are prepared to produce renewable energy to keep the operation flourishing.

Is Green Web Hosting for You?

Green hosting is great for obvious reasons but not everyone is ready to convert.  Some are turned off because the price varies and can be more than traditional hosting.  Cost aside, you want to find a company that is reliable and provides a quality service most importantly.  With the backing of a respectable green web host, you can feel good about your role in saving the earth.