My host for Simple Living Flea Market is VentraIP hosting. After returning to Oz ( after spending 5 years in Texas), I decided I needed an Aussie host. I did a lot of research, and decided VentraIP would be the best, and I made a fine choice indeed!

As well as their incredible tech support, their excellent customer service and friendly forum, COVE also offers something I have never seen anywhere else. Here's some info from their site:

VentraIP is very aware of the damaging impact carbon dioxide (CO2 or 'greenhouse gasses') are having on our environment, which is why we offer our web hosting customers the ability to neutralise the carbon emissions generated by the service......... VentraIP will neutralise the carbon emissions generated by your web hosting account and associated networking devices, as well as providing a small buffer that ensures you are covering your emissions and more rather than not enough.

On average, six new trees are planted to absorb one tonne of CO2, with up to 50% of the absorption occurring within the first 10 years.

Environmental awareness

VentraIPis one of very few businesses in the IT sector who acknowledges that power used to run our office and equipment, as well as the equipment itself, is a contributing factor to the growing amount of greenhouse gas emissions or "black balloons" being released to the environment, which is why we offer our customers the ability to offset all of their carbon emitting services.

Carbon Offsets
Every product and service we offer has been carefully analyzed to give us an indication of how much carbon offset is required to neutralise the effects it has on the environment, plus a small buffer to ensure we're doing more and not less.

Carbon offsets are entirely voluntary at this stage and can be purchased as an add on to any VentraIP service.

Offsets that are purchased by VentraIP customers are directly donated to CarbonNeutral.com.au who are committed to neutralising carbon emissions by planting trees that trap CO2 and neutralise it.

Green Office Policy
VentraIP maintains a strict green office policy which is responsible for policies such as all paper and cardboard products are recycled, either in-house or through the appropriate facilities, and that all printer cartridges and mobile telephones are recycled.

This was the clincher for me, so I not only purchased hosting, I also purchased offset points, which is why you will see the logo in the footer of the Flea Market.  Regardless of your views on the efficacy of Carbon Offsets, it is great to see a business thinking, and being concerned, about its own carbon footprint! Good onya VentraIP!