October 10, 2008 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Australian first tier IP carrier and hosting provider Internode (www.internode.on.net) has announced it has been using 100 percent renewable energy throughout its operations since the start of September.
According to Internode's announcement Friday, buying GreenPower (www.greenpower.gov.au) accredited power adds a premium of more than 20 percent to the company's power bill, however, it signals the company's "entry into the next phase of 'greening' itself." GreenPower is an Australian government-run accreditation program that audits renewable energy suppliers and offers a directory of green certified energy programs to businesses and households.
Earlier this year, Internode achieved carbon-neutral status by buying 3,900 certified carbon credits following a comprehensive carbon audit. Now, all the electricity used by Internode offices and data centers is completely generated from GreenPower-approved sources including wind and solar plants.
Internode managing director Simon Hackett said customers hosting data or servers with Internode could be reassured they were dealing with a truly 'green' supplier.
"This is a distinct step forward compared to merely purchasing carbon offsets for the audited carbon emissions of Internode," Internode managing director Simon Hackett said in a statement.
"The purchase of 100 percent GreenPower is significantly more expensive than the current market value of 'post-emission' carbon offsets. However, we feel strongly that anywhere we can eliminate CO-2 emissions at source is the best answer - for us, for our customers and for the world we live in."
In late September, Australian web hosting provider Digital Pacific (www.digitalpacific.com.au) announced a new green hosting program where it will routinely purchase carbon credits to offset the amount of energy it uses. However, such actions are subject to critics who accuse these companies of "Greenwashing," meaning a superficial nod by marketers to environmentalism, adopting practices such as buying carbon credits or claiming that virtualization alone makes them environmentally friendly.
As companies get the option to choose their energy suppliers, more options are available to them that are not as extreme building their own energy plants.
While simply buying its way into being a green company, according to some critics, Internode is going one step further by eliminating carbon emissions rather than offsetting their emissions from petroleum, coal, and natural gas generated electricity.
"Our customers can feel confident that choosing Internode is materially reducing, rather than raising, their own personal carbon footprint through their use of our Internet services," Hackett said.
