Hey everyone, We're currently putting together a 'Green Package' for web design and hosting. I'd be interested to hear some thoughts on how we can achieve this. Some ideas we've come up with so far: Walking/Cycling/Using Public Transport to get to consultations Planting a tree for every so many hours of development time (to compensate for electricity usage) Monitoring electricity usage and taking appropriate measures to reduce emissions (turning workstations off instead of on standby etc) Any other ideas would be great. Also I'd be interested to hear from any eco friendly web hosting companies that can offer some form of guarantee both regarding their green credentials and their server uptime. And finally any ideas on how we prove the green credentials, whether we need any certification (I've seen ISO 14000 but I think that may be taking it too far for a SME!) and how we go about the legalities. Mods please feel free to move this, didn't have a clue where to post it! Cheers, Matt.
Good luck with that Matt BUT I for one have the firm belief that this kind of ethos will not assist in this field. Why? Because at the end of the day there are 3 key factors to winning a contract (after 6 years experience I have found them to be these...others of course may differ) Price of the project How much it will cost them to get online What is the total amount of the funds I need to transfer Bear in mind, this is relative to a SME market place not BB. I just wonder how green (I also feel this is a fad to exploit more cash from those that have it, not you, in general) a website can be when by its own nature it is only available from sources that consume and create their own 'carbon footprint'. It is a bit like having alcohol free beer...:confused1: And my favourite question for all those eco warriors...what wiped out the dinosaurs? It wasn't their Citreon usage was it? jmtc
I too looked into the green thing for business and found it was not worth it as I have a ver low carbon footprint anyway, so apart form being naturally careful about the environment and generally efficient about energy saving, there isn't much else you can do that will necessarily make a big difference. Certainly, to say you are working to reduce and maintain a low carvob footrprint is nice, but it doesnt win web-related contracts over the usual things from my research. The cost to sign up to some of these carbon schemes can be quite high so it depends if you think you will get a return on your investment with such associations. Check out this website. I've spoken several times to the guy that runs this business and he has a couple of different options you could consider.
Thanks for the linkages! Yea we want to do it as we're looking to start dealing with the government and we've been told that this might give us a slight edge in winning contracts. But I'm not really to invest anything other than time and pocket money into it because as you say I doubt it would be what would win us the contract! It's just nice to offer the cherry sometimes
Hi Matt, with non-government and government organisations you are quite correct about the green thing. Policy is coming through. The brand audit I referred to was in reference to a re-brand covering the trading company. Branding was 20 years old. The 'audit' was put in place to ensure selection of the right providers. This affected web / design / branding / print / everything. It is particularly important for transparency through the process. Ethos, ethics were very important. I was pocher come game keeper maiking initial assessments on suitability. Again, the "Food thing" I mentioned is exactly the same scenario. You don't get considered unless you meet the basics. PM me...all the stuff is for SMEs with no cash. It's about good practice not about investment. As you are small (like me), you are able to be flexible and do the right thing. That is one of the great things about SMEs. Glad to see you enjoy chillie plants too. lol.
Yup, I wouldn't drink it myself but companies have made a mint selling it! People and companies like to have labelled associated with them. If they want to be 'green' and they can have a 'green' website and 'green' web hosting then they can still call themselves 'green'. In reality it might be that they just fund the planting of the tree, but the 'green' label means a lot. Same as 'investors in people' (who tend to be the worst employers in my opinion) don't actually invest in people, they just know what to do in order to get the badge.
Agreed. There is no reason why a Small Biz can't be what it wants to be and pass on the good. If you're running solely for profit, sounds like a pointless exercise...money for the sake of it. I like what Matt is doing. May as well choose something you like and choose something that benefits more than just the immediate. I think it's top banana.:thumbup1:
Has anyone costed, in carbon, time and monetary terms, what it is costing to fufill expectations of government-green-goody-two-shoe-ness? You are working in a warmed office, on a computer, using resources so you can say you will save resources; how much is all this feelgoodery costing? I think the best indicator of how green you should go is price. For instance, now the cost of photovoltaic is coming down it will soon be economically viable to generate your own electricity, rather than just being gesture politics. Gesture politics actually waste resources which is all a bit the wrong way around really.
I agree. The problem is consumerism with tat / packaging / waste (being what doesn't get used) Not just green or eco, it's a wider issue than that. currently been looking for research on 'clicks'. Client told me about energy problems in server farms too. They are big issues. Need to be pin-pointed correctly. Behaviour changes. Couldn't agree more.
I thought that was a myth? Or only applicable to certain types of screens? Still though, Google Black is a perfect example of people being interested in Green if it's given to them on a plate. People felt as if they were doing their bit just from doing something they would do everyday. No reason why the same logic can't be applied to websites?
Can someone confirm this please? I have often thought the same. Black is made up of zero values in RGB. Thank You. Our site will stay dark.
yes. some one sent me a link of apple mac being used as bird tables. :001_tongue: this is my w/e. enjoy :grouphug:
We are very interested in finding a reliable reseller / server option that is powered by renewable energy. Does anyone have any recommendations?
This isn't going to win me many friends but you are unlikely to find a hosting company with real green credentials. The simple reason is very few hosting companies own their own data centres so while the host may boast that their servers are powered by hamster powered PSUs, the data centre they are in might be running on coal
From a business perspective, I think we may be over doing it here. Of course, if you want to win public funded contracts, throw in some green gestures. But make sure it is costed in - they will pay for it. But in the main, do what you feel is right, and appropriate, but concentrate on running a good business. Be ethical, give good service, price fairly, treat suppliers and staff well etc etc. But changing the colour of a website to reduce power consumption is definitely playing at the edges of a huge, ill-defined, global issue! If you really want to make a different envirnomentally, you have to think holistically, and focus on the things that make a bigger impact. For example, I hope that whilst you design your black screen websites that you have your heating turned down, and never, ever use air conditioning? No...I thought not.