In the past few years, many in the computing industry have affirmed their commitment to helping to develop a sustainable world. These days, the number of options for Green Web Hosting has risen along with consumer’s awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions and offset energy usage.

So many businesses now offer green hosting; that the market has become saturated with companies claiming to offer eco-friendly provisions. The trouble is that not all companies go to the same lengths, not all share the same commitment to providing the greenest services possible. Due to these many different shades of green, it’s difficult for the consumer to know which is the best choice of company to ethically provide the right technology combined with social responsibility.

When considering green hosting, it’s important to find out just how green the company actually is. There are many different ways that companies can provide green hosting. In terms of powering the services they offer, there are two main ways that green hosting companies receive their energy. They either purchase a Renewable Energy Certificate, which insures them that the power they receive was produced in a way that isn’t detrimental to the environment. The other way is for the green hosting company to generate their own power directly from renewable energy such as solar and wind power.

Other companies have purchased woodlands and promise to ensure that the number of trees absorb more carbon that is used by the powering of servers. Of course, this is just a way of offsetting the use of power, but the power is still produced in traditional ways, hungrily gobbling up precious and finite resources.

Clearly, not all companies go to the same lengths to provide the greenest hosting services available. Those that run their services, servers, offices and data centres on renewable energy are much greener than those that close the barn door after the horse has bolted with dirty energy bought with guilty carbon credits.

Committing to greener business practices doesn’t stop at using power. To be green also means building relationships with suppliers and business partners that are also green. What’s the point in taking the time and energy to ensure that your company is green, if everyone around you is choking the planet?

If your green hosting company is really committed to cleaner energy, eco-friendly commerce and ethical business standards, then there are lots more they can be doing.

Using recycle paper in the office, recycling printer cartridges and toners and recycling as much office waste as possible will make an impact. Staff that commit to walking or cycling to work also demonstrate their green credentials. The work environment is virtually alive with opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint, everywhere you look there’s a way to get greener. From eco-friendly light bulbs to composting your organic waste and turning the printer off at night, every little helps.

When choosing the right green hosting company for you, there are many different shades of green. Is your green hosting company really green, or just playing at it?

Lightbeing Creations Ltd is an ethically run and environmentally responsible company specialising in 100% solar powered web hosting, domain registrations and SSL digital certificates, and high quality, affordable, ethical website design.