Nachhaltiger Systembetrieb mit Green Hosting

System Change for Climate Change?

Climate protection and the need to switch to sustainable alternatives is becoming increasingly important in all areas - including hosting. At first glance, the connection between hosting and sustainability does not seem so clear, which is why we want to shed some light on the subject below.

Sustainability in IT: a framework for systemic thinking

Let's start by looking at the bigger picture: sustainability in digital systems cannot be reduced to a single aspect such as "green electricity". It starts with the infrastructure, but also permeates architectural decisions, development processes and organisational practices.

In his presentation "Patterns of Sustainability in Software Engineering" (Friedrichsen, 2023), computer scientist Uwe Friedrichsen presented seven principles that enable a holistic perspective on sustainable IT. These patterns help to systematically analyse where there is potential for sustainability in IT projects - and how they can be exploited. In this article, we focus on the aspect of green hosting, which is why the following three principles from Friedrichsen are relevant at first glance:

• Public cloud — scale resources flexibly, distribute loads efficiently and use data centres with low CO₂ intensity.

• On-premises — use hardware efficiently, avoid overcapacity and consistently switch off unused infrastructure

• Runtime — optimising runtime behaviour, smoothing load peaks, automating processes and reducing energy consumption through smart control.

These three patterns directly affect the infrastructure and ongoing operations - and therefore form the basis for so-called "green hosting".

Green hosting: not a standard, but a system issue

But what exactly makes hosting "green"? There is no standard definition. In most cases, a 51% share of green electricity is enough for a provider to call itself sustainable. However, those who operate their servers in Germany are not in the best starting position when it comes to power supply, as Germany still has a lot of catching up to do in international comparison before the energy mix can really be classified as "green". If you want to find out more, you can get a global overview at Electricity Maps.

In any case, electricity is only one part of the equation: hardware, processes and scalable structures also have an impact on the carbon footprint. Sustainability is not an either/or proposition, but a question of system logic and entrepreneurial focus.

This is precisely why many companies are faced with the decision: do we rely on a specialised green hoster - or on a scalable public cloud provider? Both pursue the goal of conserving resources in their own way - but with different approaches:

• Specialised green hosters — such as Windcloud rely on certified green electricity, direct CO₂ reduction and regional environmental measures.

• Public cloud providers — such as AWS optimise energy consumption through modern, demand-driven infrastructures and scaling effects.
  

The sustainable approach with specialised green hosting providers

The sustainable approach is based on a clear focus: maximum transparency and direct environmental impact. By exclusively using physical green electricity, utilizing waste heat and certified disposal processes, these providers focus on concrete, measurable CO₂ reduction. In addition, there are often regional initiatives and a traceable supply chain that reflects ecological responsibility throughout the company. However, the lower scalability and, in some cases, the classic infrastructure approach, which is not automatically optimized for energy efficiency in operation, have a limiting effect.

The efficient approach with scalable public cloud services

Public cloud providers such as AWS rely on efficiency through technology: thanks to serverless architectures, automatic scaling and global infrastructure, resources are only used when needed. This saves energy - especially for applications with a changing load profile. At the same time, large platforms are increasingly investing in the expansion of renewable energies and carbon offsetting. However, the still fossil-based electricity mix in some regions, the high dependency on a few US suppliers and the intransparent supply chain remain critical. Ecological progress here is primarily based on system optimisation and less on direct avoidance.

The green thumb for hosting: two levers that really count

Both hosting models - green hosting and public cloud - offer approaches for more sustainable web hosting. However, how "green" a system really is in the end is not only decided by the choice of provider, but above all by looking at your own application and ongoing operations. If you really want to understand and improve the ecological footprint of your hosting, you should therefore focus on two key factors:

Lever 1: Choosing the right provider

How sustainably does the hosting provider operate? Location, electricity mix, energy efficiency, transparency and regional measures have a significant impact on the carbon footprint. It is worth taking a critical look at certificates, promises and data center structures.

Lever 2: Operating your application

How efficient is your own application during operation? Are computing power, storage and bandwidth really needed – or are systems permanently oversized? Is there data waste, outdated backups or unnecessary processes that waste resources? And are only the requirements that are really necessary and sensibly designed being implemented?

The second lever in particular is often underestimated – but this is precisely where there is great potential. Green hosting doesn't just mean choosing the "right" provider. It also means regularly scrutinizing your own operations: taking a look, cleaning up, optimizing. In terms of the Sustainability Patterns according to Friedrichsen (2023), this means not "only" dealing with infrastructure issues, but also taking a structured look at requirements, application design, specific implementation and overarching processes. This makes the abstract goal of "sustainability" more tangible – and allows it to be systematically pursued step by step in all areas.

So green, so good? Only with the right setup

Green hosting is an important topic – and its complexity is often underestimated. There is no standard definition, but it is usually understood to mean hosting providers that operate their servers with green electricity and rely on energy-efficient infrastructure processes. However, depending on the application, public cloud providers can also be useful: Their demand-driven infrastructures and economies of scale contribute, indirectly but effectively, to sustainability.

Above all, however, green hosting does not end with the provider. The hosted application itself also offers numerous levers for reducing the ecological footprint - from the infrastructure and data storage to ongoing processes and the way in which requirements are implemented.

Ultimately, it's all about making the right adjustments for your own setup: when choosing a provider and in your own system operation. There are no one-size-fits-all answers when it comes to green hosting – but there are many specific starting points.

If you want to make your infrastructure more sustainable, we will be happy to support you.
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