Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (286)	6/10/2005 8:14:55 PM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 24210

Cool idea... This Blog Is 100 Percent Solar By Amit Asaravala 02:00 AM Jun. 09, 2005 PT Most web-hosting companies pride themselves on the speed and reliability of the servers they house in their data centers. But for a select few, the pride comes from knowing that the electricity coursing through their servers is 100 percent clean. Over the past several years, these boutique firms have carved out a "green" niche in the crowded web-hosting market by running data centers powered entirely by solar panels. The panels are not only good for the environment, they're also good for business. In addition to saving the companies thousands of dollars a month in electric bills, they're drawing in customers from all over the world who want to host their websites in a green data center. "That was a big plus for us," said Phil Nail, technology manager at Southern California's Affordable Internet Services Online, or AISO, which converted its data center to solar power in 2002 as a cost-saving measure. "We've brought on probably a good couple-thousand customers since the panels were installed. The majority of those customers were searching for green hosting options and found us." Customers who signed up with AISO long before the panels were installed are also pleased. "It's a nice match with what we do," said Mike Lutz, director of distribution at MacGillivray Freeman Films, an Imax film production studio in Laguna Beach, California. "Over 30 years, we have focused on delivering films that feature science and conservation, and working with a company that is powered by solar power certainly fits that bill." The positive response is not surprising to John Gethoefer, president of Portland, Oregon, company ecoSky. Gethoefer launched ecoSky in 2003 with the goal of serving companies that want to operate with the least impact on the environment. "What it comes down to is that there's a lot of movement in this country and in this world by people trying to live more sustainably," he said. "A lot of business owners are responding to that." Data center owners are responding, too. In addition to AISO and ecoSky, the list of green web hosts includes Elfon, Locomotive Media, Solar Data Centers and Sustainable Marketing, among others. Not all the companies get their power from on-site solar panels. Some buy renewable energy credits from their regional power utility. The utility, in turn, agrees to purchase a set amount of electricity from a green producer, like a solar farm or a wind farm. But the end result for the companies' clients is the same: They feel better about themselves at the end of the day. "Customers who are residential subscribers -- they get the peace of mind knowing that they're part of something that is improving society's relationship with the environment and reducing pollution," said Gethoefer. "For business users, they also get to extend that to their customer base," he added. "There are a lot of business users who advertise that they have an environmentally responsible website." Indeed, some ecoSky clients feature small "Powered by Solar Energy" logos at the bottom of their web pages. Similarly, AISO clients often display a "Site hosted with 100% Solar Energy" button. Unfortunately, as well-meaning as they are, these gestures aren't likely to have much of an impact on the world's overall energy consumption -- at least not until major data centers begin to follow the lead of the boutiques. And that's not going to happen anytime soon, say energy analysts. Story continued on Page 2 » wired.com