| The Internet is undoubtedly a vital resource for | | | | for our planet and invest in the systems which will |
| the advancement of humankind. The whole thing | | | | supersede carbon dependent industry. |
| is however fundamentally flawed. Unless we can | | | | One way for the web site owner to make a |
| find sustainable ways of powering our Internet its | | | | difference is to use solar power as the energy |
| entire existence is threatened. | | | | source for that web site. Don't worry, you don't |
| Every single web site out there sits on the hard | | | | need to install a solar panel in your office. Some |
| drive of some computer which sits in the middle | | | | bright spark has already built a 100 percent solar |
| of two other computers which in turn are located | | | | powered data centre which you can use to host |
| in a huge row of machines all lined up side-by-side. | | | | your web site. |
| This is what we call a data centre. | | | | Masses and masses of pure Californian sun is |
| Most of us think a computer doesn't really use | | | | soaked up every day and converted into |
| that much electricity. But on this scale it becomes | | | | electricity which powers the computers on which |
| a major concern. The power requirements for | | | | your web site is stored. You can feel safe in the |
| these data centres are surprisingly high. Of | | | | knowledge that your web site is contributing |
| course, as fossil fuels begin to run out, the very | | | | nothing to the global warming problem and your |
| systems that create the power which makes | | | | web hosting account will no longer be subject to |
| that web site pop-up on your screen almost | | | | power outages which 90 percent of your |
| instantly are coming under threat. | | | | competitors will continue to suffer. |
| As with every other carbon dependent resource | | | | As carbon hungry electricity generation becomes |
| we humans have created, the Internet is at the | | | | cost ineffective, big industry will no doubt turn |
| mercy of our changing globe. It is essential that | | | | their attention to alternative energy. We are first |
| we find new ways to generate electricity. | | | | movers, investing in our planet and our future. Let |
| In fact the technology already exists, what it | | | | the petrochemical companies get bogged down in |
| requires is investment. Governments need to | | | | their ever more futile search while we embrace |
| invest and at the other end of the scale, | | | | the clean, green energy of the future. |
| individuals like you and I need to take responsibility | | | | |