Our Environment

Every industry is going green and web hosting is no exception. A web hosting company provides servers to host web sites and it may offer the ability to register domain names. What can make a hosting service green? Well, this mainly depends on who you ask as there is not a fixed standard. Most of the time, especially with tech companies, green means that they take measures to offset their carbon footprint. Since technology companies may have dozens if not hundreds of power hungry computers, the energy usage can be considerable.

Many hosting companies opt to simply donate to non-profit environmental groups or purchase carbon credits. Other hosting companies guarantee that the energy they use is produced in an ecofriendly manner such as wind, solar, or geothermal. A growing number of companies have even started producing their own power.

Whether you are looking for cheap web hosting for your blog or starting the next big .com company, ask what your provider is doing to offset their energy usage.

Credit card companies are jumping on the "green" bandwagon by offering their environmentally aware customers new eco-friendly options for their reward points. Customers can now use their points to buy environmentally friendly products or they can donate rewards points or earnings to their favorite environmental charity.

Stiff competition and increased scrutiny in credit card processing and credit card issuing practices have led the industry to consider new and innovative methods to appeal to new market segments. Some of the worlds largest credit card issuers are now offering green programs for their growing base of environmentally conscience customers.

Some of the new green programs include:

Consumers with a Wells Fargo rewards card can now use their points to back renewable-energy projects. With points ranging from 5,000 to 10,000, they can support the development of green power.

Bank of America's WorldPoints Rewards card holders can use points to buy environmental merchandise. Card holders will be given the option to donate points to groups that invest in greenhouse gas reduction.

Citigroup will soon add environmental products to their rewards catalog that will include recycled milk-carton furniture and compost systems.

Green Merchant Alliance, a company that provides credit card merchant services, donates 15% of it's profits to clean energy projects all at no additional cost to the participating merchants.

Bright Planet, an organization that is helping in fight against climate change, will issue a card that will donate money to clean-energy projects each time they are used.

Wal-Mart released its first major sustainability report outlining its world wide efforts of becoming a greener company.

The report, released late November 2007, details dozens of sustainability programs ranging from environmental and economic development to employee health care and a WalMart credit card with a "green" theme. Although a good first step, many agree that more details and effort should be forth coming for the world’s largest retailer.

Environmental defense, who works with large companies including Wal-Mart and helped develop the report, is pleased that the retail giant is taking steps in the right direction but admits that there will need to be more data and context in future reports.

According to the report, Wal-Mart’s emissions of greenhouse gasses rose 8.6 percent in 2006 from the year before. So although WalMart should be congratulated for disclosing their environmental impact and setting an example for other companies to follow, it remains to be seen if they will be successful in reducing their environmental impact in the years to come.