Have you ever considered the amount of electricity that a datacenter uses? Imagining rows of computers running 24-7 is comparable to a small city that is always on. That’s why green energy in datacenters has become so important. It is not just about saving money but also making the internet cleaner.
I read once about a hosting company that utilized wind energy for a considerable amount of their servers. At first, I thought that it simply took away from their credibility and was an excellent marketing gimmick. When I looked into it, I found everything worked just as fast and reliable as normal datacenters, sometimes better! This made me realize that green energy is not only good for the nature, but good in practice.
• You will spend less on energy over time - Typically, solar and wind costs less than fuel after setup.
• You will have a better brand image - Customers like companies that support the environment.
• You will be better prepared for the future - As the government pushes further for cleaner energy it makes sense to go green.
• You will be contributing to saving the environment - Cleaner air means less smoke, because we are burning less fuel.
And seriously, who wouldn't want to have faster websites while promoting the wellbeing of our world?
• High setup costs - Solar panels and wind farms can have a high cost of entry.
• Not all areas are suitable - Some areas simply do not have enough wind or sun to reliably provide energy for hosting.
• You need a backup - On cloudy days and days when the wind is calm, energy will be required from alternate sources to sustain power to sites.
However, some of the biggest names in hosting services, such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have been running many of their datacenters using green energy. If they can do it, then certainly smaller hosts can give it a try.
So, when you select a hosting company, ask: does it use clean energy? If so, your website is not only online, but it's helping the Earth. Not too many things today to feel proud of.
Why Do Datacenters Need Green Energy?
Datacenters use a lot of power, and because they use a lot of power, much of that power is from fossil fuel sources, which pollutes our environment. This led people to wonder why datacenters can’t use clean energy sources, like solar, wind, or water power?I read once about a hosting company that utilized wind energy for a considerable amount of their servers. At first, I thought that it simply took away from their credibility and was an excellent marketing gimmick. When I looked into it, I found everything worked just as fast and reliable as normal datacenters, sometimes better! This made me realize that green energy is not only good for the nature, but good in practice.
The Benefits of Green Datacenters
So why use green energy? Here are some reasons to consider:• You will spend less on energy over time - Typically, solar and wind costs less than fuel after setup.
• You will have a better brand image - Customers like companies that support the environment.
• You will be better prepared for the future - As the government pushes further for cleaner energy it makes sense to go green.
• You will be contributing to saving the environment - Cleaner air means less smoke, because we are burning less fuel.
And seriously, who wouldn't want to have faster websites while promoting the wellbeing of our world?
The Downfalls of Green Energy
There are certainly some downfalls too, such as:• High setup costs - Solar panels and wind farms can have a high cost of entry.
• Not all areas are suitable - Some areas simply do not have enough wind or sun to reliably provide energy for hosting.
• You need a backup - On cloudy days and days when the wind is calm, energy will be required from alternate sources to sustain power to sites.
However, some of the biggest names in hosting services, such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have been running many of their datacenters using green energy. If they can do it, then certainly smaller hosts can give it a try.
Final Thoughts
I strongly believe green energy is the way for the future of datacenters. The internet is continuing to grow, and so is power consumption. If we do not change the trajectory, the impact to Earth will be significant.So, when you select a hosting company, ask: does it use clean energy? If so, your website is not only online, but it's helping the Earth. Not too many things today to feel proud of.
