With the massive growth of webpages and internet access, and the rise of high-bandwidth applications such as online videos and games, the energy used by web hosting servers is soaring.
   In fact, it's estimated 3-4 per cent of all electricity (and associated carbon emissions) used in the world now goes to running data centres. That's equal to all Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. This energy use is likely to increase as global computer usage grows.
   Web hosts can be green in one of these ways:

1. installing solar panels or wind turbines on their premises to provide the electricity to power and cool their servers. (None currently in Australia but some in the US, including AISO and GreenestHost.)
2. buying renewable energy through the GreenPower scheme.
3. carbon offsetting with a credible carbon offsetting project. (You could, of course, use another web host and buy carbon offsets yourself.)
4. By using energy-saving IT technology to reduce the power use of their servers.

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