Websites use electricity
Every website on the internet is hosted on a web server, which is a specialised computer that typically remains switched on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These machines process large amounts of data and consume a constant stream of electricity whilst functioning.
The production of this electricity, which is generated in power plants, results in large amounts of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas held responsible for global warming, being released into the atmosphere.
Interesting fact: In Australia alone there are around 173, 422 web servers. A basic web server has a power consumption of around 100 Watts and is responsible for almost a tonne of carbon dioxide emissions every year. This means that Australia's web servers produce at least as much carbon dioxide as 35, 000 cars!
(Web server statistics source: www.securityspace.com)
Can a website really contribute to global warming?
Websites can seem like quite abstract, ethereal entities that live 'somewhere in cyberspace', leaving some people wondering just how they can contribute to global warming. In fact, a number of factors involved in creating and running a website produce significant carbon emissions.
From the day the components of your web server (the computer on which your website resides) were made in a factory, to the day it was built, to the transportation process, to the installation in its current location – your website has been contributing to global warming. Every manufacturing process, factory, piece of packaging, ship, aeroplane and truck released greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. And that was before your site even went live!
Then, once up and running, a website is involved in the following activities:
- Website design – your designer / developer used a computer to design your website. This required the use of electricity.
- Your website was uploaded to the internet where it is accessible via a vast network of computers, routers and cables – these all run on electricity.
- Once live, your website receives 'hits' – visits by people surfing the web. The website sits there on its web server 24/7 waiting for these visits, all the time switched on, fuelled by a constant stream of electricity to power its hardware, and connected to the vast networks of the internet.
- Your web hosting company probably operate a data centre, which involves having a very specialised building, a number of security measures, air conditioning equipment to keep the computers cool and any number of sophisticated IT tools – all of which are large consumers of electricity.
- If you have a good web hosting company, they’ll be making periodic backups of your site – this involves invoking systems all powered by electricity.
- When your web pages are viewed, especially for higher traffic websites, the server has to work harder. This means that it will demand more of that precious power – and be responsible for the production of even more greenhouse gases.
Like pretty much everything we do in modern life, our websites create carbon emissions. We can either take action and make the commitment to a greener future or sit back and hope for the best. The choice is ours.
How tickgreen helps
By signing up with tickgreen you pay for cleared land to be reforested. These trees help remove carbon from the atmosphere so you can offset the carbon emissions generated by powering your website, email and facebook. tickgreen only issues 100% certified carbon credits from Australian Government state forests.
How is the carbon removed from the atmosphere (tree sequestration)?
Remember biology class? Well here’s a quick refresher course…
Carbon storage in forests is part of a natural cycle, whereby some carbon is removed from the atmosphere and incorporated into the plant, and at the same time some carbon is released back to the atmosphere from the decomposition of litter and soil organic matter.
During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed into a leaf through holes (stomata) in the leaf's surface, where it is combined with water (H2O) using energy from light. The products of this chemical reaction are carbohydrates (CH2O), oxygen (O2) and water. The oxygen and water are released from the leaf through the stomata, and the carbohydrates are transported to other parts of the plant where they are used as an energy source and to build structural components of the plant (such as cells).
By purchasing carbon credits from tickgreen you are ensuring that the CO2 you produce is removed from the atmosphere and stored within a tree where it can no longer impact on the Greenhouse Effect.
How do I know the carbon credits have actually been used for me?
When you sign up to tickgreen, we purchase the relevant number of carbon credits. These carbon credits are placed in our tickgreen account within the greenhouse gas registry at www.ggas-registry.nsw.gov.au. The credits are retired, which means that they can never be resold.
Some more reasons to tickgreen
1) Reduce greenhouse gases
Firstly and most importantly, you are directly assisting in reducing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When you sign up to tickgreen old, cleared land is reforested with trees that remove carbon from the earth’s atmosphere.
2) Being green is better for business
Displaying the tickgreen certificate on your website is an effective way to show that your business cares about the environment and is actively striving to reduce greenhouse emissions. Neutralising the carbon emissions from your website is a measurable, meaningful step in developing a corporate sustainability policy and for a relatively low cost can positively enhance your brand. As awareness of climate change and its potential for devastation grows, consumers are increasingly choosing to deal with companies that demonstrate their commitment to a cleaner, greener planet.
3) Help green grow
A major benefit is that by making your website green you are actively contributing to the growth of forests as well as renewable and alternative energy solutions, the long term solution for global warming. The more that we do now, the faster we can resolve this crisis. By showing your commitment now you will be providing an excellent example for other businesses which, if they follow suit, will create a ripple effect – the result being a cleaner, greener atmosphere for everyone.
4) Modern technology can be green
Many of the world’s leading scientists agree that modern technology is the key that will provide us with the tools and information to combat global warming. With the internet being the most powerful communication and research tool we have, we should strive to minimise the impact it has on the environment. Together we can ensure that we use it responsibly, keep it green and don't let it hamper the objectives we are working towards.
5) Legislation
Many countries are introducing legislation that makes businesses accountable for the impact they have on our environment, By making your website green you are taking a valuable and visible step towards showing that your organisation is acting responsibly and has a corporate sustainability policy in place.