(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- The US Environmental Protection Agency has recognized web host 1&1 Internet (www.1and1.com) for its Lenexa, Kansas Data Center for its annual purchase of 17.5 million kilowatt-hours of green power.

According to 1and1's Wednesday announcement, the EPA has named the Lenexa facility a Green Power Partner, marking the company's next step in its efforts to protect the environment. Because it could not power its Lenexa data center directly using specifically renewable energy, 1&1 opted to offset its energy footprint by funding projects that generate electricity from renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal.

As part of its initiative to lessen its impact on the earth's climate, 1&1 began purchasing certified Green-e renewable energy certificates in 2008 from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (www.b-e-f.org) , a national supplier of green power products. Most of the RECs came from a low-impact hydroelectric facility in Lawrence, Kansas, certified by the Low Impact Hydro Institute.

Equivalent to 100 percent of the purchased electricity used by the Kansas Data Center, the EPA calculates that 1&1's new green power purchase will equal the amount of carbon dioxide emissions of more than 2,000 passenger vehicles per year.

"This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency," 1&1 chief executive officer Oliver Mauss said in a statement. "1&1's continued purchase of green power helps our organization become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others companies across the US that supporting clean sources of electricity is an important choice in reducing climate risk."

A subsidiary of Germany-based Internet services provider United Internet (www.united-internet.de), 1&1's five worldwide data centers are among the world's most energy efficient. In addition to purchasing RECs, 1&1 continues its green efforts by using highly efficient power supplies with less than 20 percent heat loss as well as omitting any unnecessary components within its servers. Globally, 1&1's green efforts will offset emissions of over 30,000 tons of CO2 per year. 

1&1 recently added the new Single-Core S Server to its existing line of servers, providing a higher power -- and eco-friendly -- solution for companies graduating from shared hosting solutions.

"EPA commends our leading partners for their continued commitment to protecting the environment by using green power," EPA climate protection partnerships division director Kathleen Hogan said in a statement. "By supporting green power, 1&1 Internet's Kansas Data Center is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, supporting clean energy technologies, and contributing to a clean energy future."

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