As the world awakens to the importance of environmentally-friendly business practices, data storage has been placed under scrutiny. Website hosting data centres use a staggering amount of energy to run their equipment and keep it cool. The high levels of power required to host websites and store their data, has inspired several providers to offset consumption with green initiatives.
“The Department of Natural Resources says data centres already consume about one per cent of all electricity used in Canada, and the demand keeps growing,” reports CBC in ‘Completely unsustainable’: How streaming and other data demands take a toll on the environment.
Environmentally-friendly hosting most often involves the exchange of green power credits for standard power used, but it can also mean the direct use of power alternatives like solar or wind. Technology is also being developed for more efficient, natural cooling and the conversion of generated heat.
Additionally, hosting companies have found other creative ways to reduce their carbon footprint throughout their entire infrastructure. Like other businesses, data centres make a conscious effort to reduce office waste, recycle equipment, use energy-efficient lighting & cooling, hire remote workers, plant trees, and so on.
Website hosting is only part of the data demand, but it makes a significant difference in the size of a company’s environmental footprint.
“In 2023, the world’s insatiable appetite for data continued to grow at an unprecedented rate,” reports the Computer Room Services Corporation. “From streaming services to cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT), data centers faced the daunting task of keeping up with this ever-increasing demand.”
Canada has become known for it’s protection of the environment, and that’s beginning to impact the data centres in this country.
“One of the unique aspects that sets the Canadian data center market apart is its focus on sustainability,” says DataCenters.com. “As companies increasingly prioritize environmental responsibility, data centers in Canada have made significant strides in reducing their carbon footprint. Many facilities utilize renewable energy sources and employ efficient cooling technologies, making them environmentally friendly choices for colocation services.”
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The Most Environmentally-Friendly Website Hosts
It isn’t easy to find truly environmentally-friendly website hosting, so we’ve included a few recommendations below.
GreenGeeks (our host) puts three times the energy they consume back into the grid through wind energy. They have both Canadian and American data centres.
HostUpon is a Canadian hosting company that has greened virtually every part of its business. Their environmentally-friendly hosting initiatives include less equipment through cloud technology, Energy Star-qualified products and equipment, office recycling & waste reduction, telecommuting options for employees, and more.
Host Papa is a Canadian web hosting provider powered by 100% renewable energy.
A2 Hosting is a Carbonfund.org partner, supporting reforestation and continued development of clean, renewable sources of energy. They’ve also greened their office with polices like employee telecommuting and the re-use of older hardware.
Your decision to use green website hosting will, in turn, reduce your own carbon footprint. Furthermore, your eco-aware visitors will view you in a more favourable light if you inform them of your decision to use environmentally-friendly hosting. Several studies indicate many shoppers prefer to purchase from “green” companies. Not only will they choose a sustainable brand over a non-sustainable brand, but they’ll often happily pay more for their products.
For example, a Holiday Shopping survey from Accenture, found Canadian consumers expect to spend:
- 30% of their holiday shopping budget on gifts that are recyclable
- 27% on gifts that are reusable
- 19% on gifts made by “green” companies
The following infographic summarizes the Tork Green Business Survey results.
“The key takeaway for Canadian organizations is that 86 per cent of Canadians are buying green, so products and services with environmental claims are likely a fundamental driver in a customer’s purchase decision,” said Mike Kapalko, sustainability marketing manager for SCA.
GreenGeeks even has a number of badges you can use on your website to let visitors know that your online business is earth-friendly.
If you’re concerned about the environmental practices of your current host, send them an email. You can easily switch to a greener company if you’re not happy with their answer. In fact, some website hosts will move your website to their servers free of charge.
Online Business Canada is proudly hosted on GreenGeeks‘ Canadian servers!
Is it important to you that your website hosting be environmentally-friendly? Please share your thoughts and concerns in the comments below, or join us in the Online Business Canada Facebook group.
Related Reading
Checklist: Choosing a Website Host for your Canadian Business
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7 Recession Proof Online Businesses To Start From Home
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Melody McKinnon is an internet entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in a wide range of online business models, backed by a formal business/marketing education and enhanced by training and mentorship. She has owned or managed both educational and ecommerce websites. Her book, 7 Recession Proof Online Businesses to Start From Home, is available from all major ebook retailers.
Melody has worked with many businesses in a multitude of capacities. She can often be found on CanadianDigitalMedia.com, CanadiansInternet.com, CanadianFamily.net, and AllNaturalPetCare.com, as well as other quality digital publications. Her content has earned reference links from highly-respected websites, magazines and university textbooks.
I don’t know what we’re going to do about data processing but I believe it WILL get more efficient like other things do. There’s no going back now!
I stumbled across the environment concerns when I started looking for hosting and found green geeks. I didn’t know I should be thinking about it until I read the info on their site. Needless to say I chose them! I like being able to boast my blog is green and I’ll put a sign on my site when I have it ready to publish.
Summer consumption must be brutal!! Why isn’t anyone talking about this?!! Businesses should know about anything that effects their environment footprint. I’m going to spread the word & thanks for writing about it!!
I had no idea how much energy hosting gobbled up. I really didn’t think about it before. It makes sense when you think of all the data centres needed these days. Thanks for bringing it to my attention and for the recommendations. Now I just have to choose one and I promise I’ll move our site!