Are Data Centers the Steel Plants of this Generation?
There was a time when the United States and Europe were large steel producers. Today, China has grown to be the largest steel producing nation on the planet, followed by Japan and the United States. The fact is, China produces about half of the world’s steel. Along with that title, China has developed a pollution problem and a serious one. In fact, China reduced or shut down dozens of steel plants through the winter of 2017-2018 to curtail the out of control air pollution in the country. It is said to be the largest shutdown of steel mills in history. China is experiencing the problems of an industrialized economy, much like that was seen in the United States and Europe in the 1950’s and 1960’s when smog hung heavy in the air over most major cities. Certainly, the world needs steel but that has to be balanced with the critical importance of clean air and water.
As North America and Europe have become less industrialized and more stringent pollution standards have been put in place, air quality has improved. However, there is an area of growing concern when it comes to the use of fossil fuels and energy use. It is the increasing problem of the massive energy use being created by data centers.
While it may be hard to imagine how the internet can cause a potential problem for our planet, one needs only perform a little due diligence to recognize the problem is real and it is growing. The question must be asked, “Are data centers the steel plants of this generation?”
A Look at the Numbers
The numbers are attention-grabbing and perhaps a bit alarming.
- Industry research indicates there are about 9 million data centers across the globe.
- These data centers are using almost 1.9 billion square feet of space.
- These data centers are always running 24-hours each day, every day.
- To stay available, servers are running 100% of the time, even when not in use or when being used very little.
- 90% of worldwide data center server space is used by American companies.
- Data centers account for 10% of all the power used by the United States Government.
- There is a data center in the US for every 100 of its citizens
While the number of data centers are said to be declining, that number can be a bit deceptive. More companies are hosting in the cloud, rather than having their own data center. Then there is another concern ahead. That of self-driving cars.
As we get closer and closer to the time where autonomous driving cars and trucks become a reality, it will create an increasing demand for server space as cars communicate with GPS and other vehicles through the internet.
Even large companies who may consider themselves “green” should take another look at how and where their data is being stored. Small companies can benefit as well.
Energy Use and Data Centers
Consider the power it takes to operate the servers in some 9 million data centers across the planet. Now, think about the other power being used on other electrical powered items like lights and monitors. Consider the fuel used by employees of these centers traveling to and from work every day. The biggest user of energy, however, is a critical component to the health and well-being of large servers. It is air conditioning.
Cool air is critical in the smooth operation of computers and servers. Much of the world’s 1.9 billion square feet of data center space needs to be cooled. To make the environmental problem worse is that many countries where these data centers are located still rely heavily on non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuel. You can begin to see why data centers just may be the steel plants of this generation.
The Answer is Eco Web Hosting
The answer lies in eco web hosting solutions from a company like OrangeWebsite.com. OrangeWebsite is based in Iceland where over 99% of the energy is from renewable sources like geothermal. Because of Iceland’s cool climate, air conditioning use is minimized. Since we have clients in over 100 countries in multiple time zones, our server use is more spread out, making our 99.9% uptime guarantee effective use of energy. Additionally, most of our staff are urged to work at home, minimizing traffic and fuel use. Our commitment to a greener planet doesn’t stop there. We support eco-friendly causes to help combat damage that has already been done to our environment.
Eco web hosting with OrangeWebsite doesn’t mean you have to pay more or expect less. Our customer service is second to none and available 24/7 no matter where you live on the globe. We offer a variety of hosting plans and because our energy cost is less, you pay less. We accept everything from bitcoin to credit cards to cash by mail. Sign up is anonymous and your site is hosted in a country that values its internet privacy and freedoms. It is also a country considered one of the world’s safest when it comes to data centers. With OrangeWebsite there are no fears as we offer a 30-day money back guarantee. You will have the added benefit of displaying the Green Seal proudly on your website, verifying to users that you are environmentally friendly when it comes to your web hosting.
Join us in spreading the word about eco web hosting and put the Green Seal on your website. Visit OrangeWebsite.com and select from a choice of plans to suit your needs. OrangeWebsite is your 100% green web hosting solutions provider.
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