It’s true of most companies, whether big or small, that a web presence is a vital communication tool. But being green is more than just being virtual, down the chain web hosts require energy so where to find one that is truly green-minded?

In my own quest I’ve found some great resources that sort through the good, the green and the greenwashers looking at everything from wind-power to sustainable office strategies.

Here are my favorites:

• Plethora of Options for Green Web Hosting: The number of green web hosting options has expanded quite a bit in recent months. Which one should you choose? Well, right now it appears that the primary discriminator is the method by which they power their operation… at TreeHugger
• Nine Wind-Powered Web Hosts: If you’re concerned about the environment and looking for a Web host, you’ll find there’s a growing number of “green” hosting companies in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. Following are nine Web hosts that reduce their impact on the environment with wind-powered energy or wind-energy offsets… at Suite101
• More Wind and Solar-powered Web Hosting: there are many more hosting providers that are powered by wind or solar (either directly from solar panels and wind turbines, or by buying clean energy credits from the utility company). If you have a website, or are thinking of creating one, please consider green hosting. Have a look at the companies… at TreeHugger

And a nice summary of how to avoid the ‘greenwash’ web hosts:

• Green Web Hosting: When one thinks of the web hosting industry, the word “environmentalism” or “greenie” is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. Since electricity needed to run servers and the cooling servers need uses up a lot of energy, many would think that the web hosting industry is environmentally unfriendly. That would indeed be the case if not for this new revelation that some companies are picking up. This new revelation is known as “green hosting”. Before you jump on the bandwagon and sing the praises of this new hosting strategy that not only serves your webhosting needs but is also good for the environment, there are a few facts that you should know.

Post from: EveryJoe

Behind the Website: Green Web Hosts

Just last month at the Green Technology World Conference the focus was on optimizing virtual communications to cut down on travel and reduce both overhead and carbon footprint. That mindset is extending into the search for qualified employees with Skype, instant messenger programs and even the virtual world of Second Life.

In A Job Interview You Don’t Have to Show Up For the Wall Street Journal looks at how some employers are using Second Life to screen potential employees. Some firms, like TMP Worldwide Advertising & Communications LLC, have gone as far to hold virtual job fairs featuring companies like Hewlett-Packard Co., Microsoft Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc.

Tandberg is a visual communications company that is helping companies “go green” with videoconferencing technology “to reduce unnecessary travel and provide effective telecommuting options.” Among Tandberg’s growing markets are first responders, telemedicine, manufacturing, financial services and telejustice.

From experience, the virtual interview can be just as nerve wracking as a live meeting but the virtual connection has many benefits. First, it’s cost-effective. Rather than spending money on travel you are able to meet prospective employers without much expense. Second, it offers an easier approach. There’s nothing like sweating over finding a parking space in time to rattle your pre-interview composure. With virtual interviews you can use the extra time saved in travel for last minute preparations.

And of course there’s the green side. Virtual interviews require electricity and aren’t zero-impact but they do help cut down air, transit and car travel which means less emissions and a smaller carbon footprint all around.

There are some special considerations for meeting in the virtual world. The post How to Prepare for a virtual interview has some good tips to handle technology. Mostly though the same rules apply to virtual interviews as they do to live interviews. Those are thoroughly examined by b5media’s own Darlene McDaniel over at Interview Chatter where job seekers can find insight into mastering the job search and interview process.

Post from: EveryJoe

Technology Greening the Interview Process

Environmental News Network reported that the GE rice in question is the same strain responsible for the “2006 contamination of at least 30 percent of rice stocks in the United States. The GE contamination had a massive negative impact on the U.S. rice industry as many countries subsequently stopped or significantly restricted the import of U.S. rice.”

Greenpeace has voiced what many consumers must be thinking. Has Anheuser Busch slipped some GE across borders in their widely distributed beer? And if they’ve managed to keep the GE out of exports, then why the double standard towards the U.S. market?

Anheuser Busch may have already given out TMI in a response to Greenpeace that “the rice is approved for use in the U.S. and is not used in brewing Budweiser destined for export.” The USDA had tried to quiet concerns over the GE rice basically by approving it (despite public protest) while the European Food Safety Authority has stated there is not enough information about the food product’s safety.

Here’s another scary thought. According to ENN, Anheuser Busch “is the largest single rice buyer in the U.S., buying six to ten percent of the annual U.S. rice crop.” My question is what, in the name of all things pure and sacred, does rice have to do with brewing beer? Water, barley, malt, hops and yeast. End of story.

The recent discovery of the GE rice is ironic, dare we say hypocritical, since Anheuser Busch recently introduced two organic beers, Wild Hop lager and Stone Mill pale ale. How do you get to be an organic beer? Watch organic beer sales rise, start a new company and use 95% organic ingredients. How do you overcome falling beer sales in the your other market? Apparently by using genetically engineered rice as a filler.

Anheuser Busch Using Genetically Engineered Rice in Beer: Greenpeace

Post from: EveryJoe

Budweiser ‘Double Mashing’ on GE Rice