From February 20th through the 22nd, you’ll be amid some WordPress goodness in a great tropical location. This year, the three-day event is held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. It is located near Manila Bay and surrounded by some great sites that I’ll go over in a moment.

The venue itself is quite spacious and exhibits a great deal of elegance.

What to Expect from WordCamp Asia

Aside from WordCamp being located in a tropical wonderland, this year, there are a lot of talks that are worth the admission.

• Decoding Vulnerabilities
  Probably one of the most useful forms of AI, Rashmi Nagpal dives into how LLMs (large language models) are capable of identifying previously undetected threats to WordPress websites. It all centers around using AI-driven models to safeguard your data.
• WordPress Speed Build Challenge
  Curious about the power of WordPress? In this challenge, Jessica Lyschik and Nick Diego will have 30 minutes to recreate a famous website using only the power of Gutenberg blocks. The idea is to demonstrate what can be done without extensive coding and is hosted by Jamie Marsland.
• WordPress Gems for Devs
  In this talk, Milana Cap goes into HTML and Interactivity APIs to demonstrate how they are game-changers for WordPress development. Using WP-CLI, you’ll see how effective these elements are when building some amazing sites.
• AI is your Expert Website Performance Assistant
  Artificial Intelligence has the potential to be a great asset, and Adam Silverstein will demonstrate the different ways you can use LLMs to check everything from vulnerabilities to improving site performance with AI-driven suggestions. It’s best if you bring your laptop along for this one.
• Pocket to Post
  Mobile technology is convenient and prevalent. Why not use it to manage and automate your site? In this talk, Celia Rozalén Martín goes over the functionality and use of the WordPress mobile app. I have to admit, I completely forgot about the mobile app, and I am curious to see this myself.

These are just some of the talks that stood out to me at WordCamp Philippines in 2025. If I was able to travel, I’d surely attend this one in person. But alas, I have responsibilities here.

Nonetheless, I will be checking out any recordings they make at WordPress.tv.

Things to Check Out in the Philippines

The Philippines has a long history and rich culture. And you’ll be surrounded by some of the most amazing sites that you don’t want to miss while you’re attending WordCamp.

For example, you can:

• Visit the Coconut Palace. This government building was built using coconut lumber and shells and is a testament to what can be built with human ingenuity. Not only that, but a building couldn’t get more tropical than that.
• Walking distance from the WordCamp Asia venue, you can visit the Hobbies of Asia mall. Here, you can find an assortment of imported goods from all over the area as well as a variety of restaurants to try.
• Want to relax in a fine casino? The Networld Hotel Spa and Casino has some beautiful accommodations for just $27 per night! I almost forgot how much cheaper everything is in Manila compared to the United States.

These were just a few of the places that were near the venue. There are a lot of things to see and experience near Manila if you have the time. The landscape alone is worth exploring.

Kick Off the Year with Us at WordCamp Asia!

Don’t forget to stop by and visit us at WordCamp. Our team is eager to meet new folks and would love to hang out with you and talk about our favorite topic: WordPress.

I’d like to thank the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees. Without you all, these WordCamps wouldn’t be as awesome. You all do amazing work to promote an equally amazing community.

Have a fun and safe weekend in Manila!

The post Sponsoring WordCamp Asia 2025 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

What Kind of Events Will Be At WordCamp?

Naturally, there will be a variety of events you can attend to help improve your understanding of the WordPress platform and ultimately, help improve your website. The first day is dedicated to contributors with the second day hosting events.

You can view the full event schedule here, but here are some of the highlights:

• How to speak in the language of your audience?
  Visitors from around the world can access your website. While translation tools have made it easier for them to view content from other languages, it may be prudent to learn what other languages your site should be translated into. Join Melissa Benach and learn how to make your content more accessible to a wider language.
• A Journey from Page Builders to Blocks in WordPress
  Many users approach page design differently in WordPress. Some choose to use Page Builders, while others stick to the Gutenberg Editor blocks. In either case, you can build an awesome website. Join Joe A Simpson Jr to learn if your approach to page building is outdated and learn how to optimize your process to build better pages faster.
• Building Websites Google Loves: Best Practices for Developers
  While we want to create a website that helps visitors, much of our development time is dedicated to optimizing our website for Google. Doing so helps increase the visibility of your site in search results, but it isn’t intuitive. However, with the help of Melissa De Ona, you can learn what it takes and what you can change to get better results.

That’s just a small taste of what you can expect from WordCamp San Jose. Once all of the events are over, the event will wrap up with the after-party that runs all the way to midnight. So be sure to attend and have some fun!

Be Sure to Check Out San Jose

While there is a lot to do at the San Jose WordCamp, be sure to set aside some time to explore the city and experience what it has to offer. Here are some interesting locations you may want to explore during your trip:

• Visit the Gold Museum
  Perhaps one of the most interesting destinations you can visit in the San Jose area is the Gold Museum. Here you can view a collection of artifacts from the indigenous people of Costa Rica in the Pre-Columbian period. There are over 600 pieces to view and appreciate. You can also sign up for a tour to learn even more about the history.
• San Jose Central Market (Mercado Central)
  One of the best ways to understand a different culture is to explore their stores. And when it comes to exploring stores there is no better option than visiting the San Jose Central Market or Mercado Central. Here you will find dozens of stalls selling local produce like coffee beans, to hand-crafted clothes that make excellent souvenirs.
• Arenal Volcano National Park
  If you’re willing to do just a bit of traveling, consider visiting the Arenal Volcano National Park. Here you can take a tour of the 5,437-foot volcano, which has been dormant since 2010. It has several hiking trails, hot springs, and even bird-watching areas for you to enjoy. As such, there is something for everyone when taking a trip to the Arenal Volcano National Park.

This is only a small portion of what you can do in San Jose during your stay. If I were you, I might consider booking a few extra days to enjoy the city and take in all of the sights.

Enjoy WordCamp San Jose!

WordCamp San Jose is going to be a great event, so be sure to look forward to it. And make sure to visit our booth and say hi to our crew. Ericka, Marco, and Alex are really looking forward to meeting you.

I would also like to thank the event organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees for making WordCamp events possible in the first place. WordPress is such an excellent platform and the best part about it is the community that supports it.

The post WordCamp San Jose, Costa Rica 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

This event hosts live talks concerning accessibility as a topic with the aim of teaching developers how to approach accessibility on their site and what they should keep in mind to accommodate users with disabilities.

By registering on the official site, you can gain access to 24 hours of nonstop webinars for free. You can choose to also donate to the event, and if you donate $50 or more, you will receive a t-shirt that will ship after the event concludes.

What is WordPress Accessibility Day?

Globally, 16% of the population suffers some form of disability that makes surfing the web difficult. That’s 1 in 6 people. As such, making sure your website is accessible to anyone should be the focus of any site.

The list of potential disabilities an individual can have is staggering with some of the most common being visual impairments, audio impairments, limited movement, dyslexia, and much more.

The focus of these webinars is to inform developers how to design web content with these individuals in mind.

For example, one of the biggest oversights for many sites is missing alt text on images and buttons. Many users rely on screen readers that need alt text to function properly and describe the site’s content to the user.

All events can be viewed using Zoom, thus no matter where you live, anyone can attend this event. And don’t worry, if you cannot attend the event, the recordings will be saved and remain accessible for you to review at your own convivence.

What to Expect from WordPress Accessibility Day

The WordPress Accessibility Day event will last for 24 hours and consist of 24 to 27 webinars. The event will kick off with the opening remarks from Ben Hannon at 14:45 UTC before a steady stream of webinars take place.

Here are a couple of the webinars you can attend by registering today:

• Accessibility is a Civil Right: The Digital Accessibility Legal Landscape for the WordPress Community
  This keynote focuses on the legal landscape behind accessibility options. It is hosted by disability rights lawyer, Lainey Feingold and can teach you how disabled individuals can use the law with or without a lawyer.
• Practical Text Accessibility Tips for Content Creators
  Many developers believe that creating text content does not require them to think about accessibility. This is a myth that Alice Orru will dispel in this webinar highlighting the best practices you can adapt to create engaging and accessible content for your blog.
• Captchas and Other Gotchas: Make Sure Your Secure Website is Accessible
  Website security will always remain one of the most important aspects of web development. Unfortunately, many security tools do not have great accessibility options, especially when it comes to Captchas. AmyJune Hineline will be highlighting the best practices to follow.
• Developing Accessible Gutenberg Blocks
  WordPress utilizes the Gutenberg editor to create content. While the blocks allow you to build accessible content, it can be hard for developers to properly utilize these functions. Kevin Sholander will demonstrate how to create a variety of accessible Gutenberg blocks for WordPress.
• Creating Inclusive Experience with WooCommerce
  WooCommerce remains one of the most popular eCommerce solutions available. As such, making sure your storefront is accessible can help secure more sales and avoid abandoned carts. Athira Mohanan and Fahad Lambate outline how you can make your WooCommerce store more accessible today and attract a wider audience.

This is just a small sample of what you can expect from the event. You can check out the full schedule to see a comprehensive list of webinars. This way you can plan which ones to attend.

Be Sure to Register Today!

The WordPress Accessibility Day is going to be a blast, so be sure to register today. This webinar is perfect for first-time developers or veterans to learn how to utilize the platform to create accessible content for any occasion.

And remember, if you donate $50 you can even receive a t-shirt to commemorate the event. In the event that you cannot make it, all of the webinars will be available on the WP Accessibility Day YouTube channel.

The post WordPress Accessibility Day, October 9-10, 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

It’s a great location and easily accessible from Highway 5 and 84.

What to Expect from WordCamp US in 2024

Throughout the week, you’ll be able to access a lot of great talks ranging from business management to the use of AI in WordPress.

Perhaps one of the more notable topics this year is how so many big brands such as Disney, CNN, and TIME utilize features found in WordPress to spearhead their online presence.

Keep in mind, though, there are a lot of other great talks this year such as:

• Deeply Integrating AI with WordPress
  As the popularity of AI continues, so does its versatility. In this talk, James LePage, goes over AgentWP, an AI assistant for individual user websites. AgentWP does everything from writing posts to troubleshooting problems.
• Building a Block First Digital News Platform for Pew Research Center
  Blocks in WordPress can do an amazing number of things and can help design some of the most elaborate websites. Seth Rubenstein will talk about how Pew Research Center launched a news platform built entirely from blocks and how it works.
• WordPress Speed Build Battle: A Lightning-Fast Web Design Contest!
  Presented by Jamie Marsland, Amber Hinds, and Brian Coords, this contest shows audience members innovative techniques to recreate famous websites. Not only will it be a fun competition, but educational as viewers gain tips on improving their own website layouts in the process.
• How to Grow and Protect Your Brand
  In this talk, Neil Peretz gives over the necessary information about law and trademarks to help you keep your brand safe and secure. In today’s online-driven world, no one is safe from the criminal element, not even sole-proprietary freelancers.
• Innovative Pricing Strategies to Grow Your WordPress Business
  Pricing strategies are vital if you want your business to grow, especially as a freelancer. I’ve seen too many people decimate their own income for the sake of making a sale. In this talk, Brian Rotsztein discusses pricing strategies while relaying critical factors you’ll need for continued success.

These are but a drop in the bucket to what’s available this year at WordCamp US. It’ll be hard to choose which talks to attend as many of them coincide at the same time. However, you can also watch replays of them on WordPress.tv if you’re unable to attend.

Since You’ll Be in Oregon…

In my opinion, Oregon has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the US. Though, I might be a bit biased as some of my family lives there. Still, it has some great attractions that you wouldn’t want to miss while attending WordCamp US in 2024.

Some of the highlights include:

• Checking out the Portland Saturday Market. Running from the beginning of March through mid-December, the market is essentially like combining art shows and a live street music festival. Artisans of all kinds collect to show off amazing talents through various souvenirs, jewelry, paintings, and more.
• Visiting the Portland Japanese Garden. If you love the outdoors or have a penchant for Japanese design, the garden is something you absolutely don’t want to miss. Waterfalls, vegetation, and building recreations really capture a bit of Japanese culture, and is an amazingly beautiful location.
• Exploring Crater Lake National Park. Now, I know Crater Lake is about a 4-hour drive south of Portland. But I wanted to add it simply because it is one of the most amazing bodies of water in the country. Its still, glass-like waters and breathtaking surrounding nature is a spectacular site to behold.

Sure, you’ll have your hands full of visiting WordCamp in Portland. But make sure you take some time for yourself to enjoy what Oregon offers. It’s an incredible state with a great deal of majestic beauty.

Have a Great Week at WordCamp US!

While you’re at WordCamp, be sure to stop by our table and meet Ericka, Marco, and Anna as they’ll be in person to chat with you. It’s one of the highlights of our visit, actually. We love interacting with campgoers.

I’d like to take a moment to thank the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees for making these camps wondrous. It’s people like you who make the WordPress community one of the best in the world.

Have a great week, all!

The post WordCamp US, Portland 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

The location is beautiful, the event is loaded, and it’s sure to be a great weekend.

What to Expect from WordCamp Bogotá in 2024?

This two-day event has a lot of interesting talks mostly centering around eCommerce and building online businesses. For instance, you can attend:

• Custom Reports for WooCommerce Analytics
  In this talk, Juan Sebastian Echeverry goes over how to create a base for a report that shows sales according to currency as well as identifying other elements useful to get the most of the new report system.
• Create a Website with a High Conversion Rate in Your E-commerce
  Having a high conversion rate is instrumental for a successful online store. In this session, Diego Mauricio Patarroyo will deliver templates and a step-by-step approach to making those conversions.
• How to Install and Optimize an Affiliate System in Your E-commerce to Increase Sales
  There’s no doubt that a good affiliate system can work wonders for generating income. Victor Alejandro Garcia Sanchez will show you how to install and optimize those systems with WooCommerce.
• Optimizing E-commerce Sales with Smart Chatbots
  Chatbots can do a wide range of things for your website, including customer assistance. In this talk, Hugo Diaz Hierro goes over the details of chatbot assistance as well as offering post-sale support and FAQs.
• 4 Tips in 10 Minutes to Make Your E-commerce Stand Out on Google
  To master Google is to generate sales. Osdeibi Acurero will show you ways to maximize your products so that Google puts your goods front and center during search results.

These are just a handful of the many talks that are going on at WordCamp Bogotá in 2024. If you’re interested in running an online store or already have a platform, this camp is definitely for you.

Fun Things to Do in Bogotá

Bogotá has a lot of cultural and world history surrounding it and the rest of Colombia. If you’re visiting from out of town, it would be a shame to miss some of the beauty and amazement wrapped in the locale.

For example, you can:

• Visit Iglesia de San Francisco. Built more than 450 years ago, this catholic temple has seen multiple reconstructions and repairs throughout its lifetime. The most recent of these restorations was completed in 1990.
• Because we’re so close to Halloween, it wouldn’t be right not to mention Ghost Tour Bogotá. A guide will take you on a tour of Bogotá’s most haunted neighborhoods, telling stories in both English and Spanish.
• If you like golden history, be sure to check out Museo del Oro. Travel back in time to pre-Hispanic cultures of the area and witness how they developed the art of goldsmithing for various purposes in different regions.

So, attend the WordCamp, but give yourself time to explore the beauty around you. Personally, I’d most definitely go on the ghost tour.

Hope to See You There!

There are a lot of great talks going on this year for those who are business-minded. Your online store could become a powerhouse with the information that is available.

It’s definitely worth the time and effort if you want to build a successful presence using WordPress and WooCommerce.

I’d like to thank all of the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and those in attendance for keeping WordCamp Bogotá alive and well. And while you’re at the WordCamp, don’t forget to stop by the GreenGeeks table and meet our very own Ericka, Marco, and Rita who will be attending in person.

We hope to see you there!

The post WordCamp Bogotá, Colombia 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

The workshop is in-person event that is free, but there are limited spaces. So, make sure you’re one of the first to secure your spot.

What to Expect from This Event

This event takes place on Saturday, August 24th. The doors open at 9:45 am with the workshop itself beginning at 10:15 am.

This event is ideal for someone who identifies as a woman either some or all of the time and has thought about speaking at WordPress Meetups or at the WordCamps themselves.

Perhaps you can’t think of a good topic to cover. Maybe you would feel more confident when up on stage with so many eyes on you.

The Speaker Workshop is one of the best ways to help you build that confidence while giving you the tools to figure out great topics that will keep your audience captivated.

What Topics Can You Expect to Cover at This Event?

This one-day event will help you with:

• Overcoming personal obstacles such as impostor syndrome.
  A lot of great people are often held back by their own misgivings of themselves. This event will help you realize that you have a presence and that you belong.
• Finding a topic for your talk.
  In reality, there is a plethora of things to talk about regarding WordPress and entrepreneurial success. And the speakers will show you the best methods for finding those topics.
• Writing a proposal for your talk.
  The proposal is the entryway for speaking, especially at WordCamps. You’ll learn how to create the best titles, biographies, and outlines for your proposals.
• Becoming a better speaker.
  It takes more than just getting on stage and talking. You have to engage the audience and keep them listening. You’ll learn how to be a better speaker overall.
• Practicing public speaking – which is optional.
  Practice makes perfect. At least, that’s what most successful folk say. That’s because every time you do something, you become better and better. This is an optional exercise, but it could be one of the most pivotal for your success.
• Creating good presentations.
  How you present the topic can make a world of difference for your talk. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to put them together in the most efficient and engaging way.
• Handling difficult questions.
  Not all questions are going to be easy. Sometimes, you’ll have to field some of the hardest questions regarding your topic. And you’ll learn how to handle those moments with poise and grace.
• The most important aspect of all; Building confidence and motivation to speak in public.
  Confidence is key to success in any field. Motivation will get you to where you want to be. Combined, you’ll be an unstoppable force during your talk while keeping the audience enthralled.

Location
Hilton San Jose La Sabana
Antiguo Restaurante El Chicote,
San José 10108, Costa Rica
Located in front of the National Stadium and La Sabana Park

Agenda
This will be the approximate itinerary of the event:

• Saturday, August 24, 2024 – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm Costa Rica time.
• 9:45 am: Doors open.
• 10:15 am: Workshop begins, starting with icebreakers to get to know everyone!
• 12:00 pm: Lunch.
• 1:00 pm: Workshop.
• 3:00 pm-3:45 pm: Social and informal time to share coffee and snacks.

Accessibility
The event is free and with limited space, it will be 100% in person with facilitators who are part of the WordPress San Jose community and will be taught 100% in the Spanish language.

In addition, you will have mentors throughout the event to help you with the exercises. Please let us know if you have any other accessibility needs.

• This event is organized by the WordPress San Jose community in Costa Rica.
• This event is sponsored by GreenGeeks Web Hosting.

Hope to See You There!

This is sure to be an incredible Saturday at a lovely location. Reserve your spot today in this free workshop and be a part of an incredible community. Tickets are available up until the 21st, but it’s always best to get them as soon as possible.

I hope you all have a great time and we hope to see you in San Jose, Costa Rica!

The post Join Us for the Speaker Workshop for Women Voices in Latin America! appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Unlike traditional web hosts, green web hosting companies can lower their impact on the environment in a variety of ways. And by extension, anyone’s website hosted by them will have a smaller carbon footprint or none at all.

For example, here at GreenGeeks, we calculate exactly how much energy our servers use and then purchase three times that amount in clean wind energy. This not only offsets the emissions but also helps us reduce emissions in general.

Let’s take a look at the importance of eliminating your website’s carbon footprint for Earth Day 2024.

How Do Data Centers Impact the Environment?

The rapid rise of digital goods and services has created an unprecedented demand for data centers to house user data on servers. These servers operate 24/7 and consume more than 200 TWh of energy.

Naturally, this makes them a large emitter that has quickly outgrown the aviation industry. Today, data centers are estimated to account for 1-1.5% of all electricity use in the world, which generates 3.5% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

This number will only continue to grow as the tech industry does, and that has no signs of slowing down whatsoever.

However, while the electricity usage concerns remain one of the biggest, it is not the only impact web hosting has on the environment. Those familiar with data centers should know that the servers they house generate a lot of heat and need to be cooled down.

To do this, a lot of data centers use water to cool the machines, which can range anywhere from 1 to 5 million gallons of water a day.

Water will become scarcer than oil as droughts become more common. And in many cases, these data centers are built in drought-prone areas, thus only making the problems more pronounced.

It is also worth pointing out that data centers are not small. An average full-scale data center is about 100,000 square feet. This means constructing one is no small feat and takes up a large plot of land further adding to its impact.

How Can Green Web Hosting Companies Help Solve This?

On average, a website is responsible for about 4,500 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly, which is equivalent to driving an average passenger vehicle 5,225 miles. Considering that there are millions of websites, we have a big problem.

A green web hosting company can help with this concern by eliminating, or significantly reducing, the number of emissions your site is responsible for. Each green web hosting company tackles this problem differently.

Let’s take a moment and look at what we do to tackle this problem at GreenGeeks.

First and foremost, we address the energy usage directly. At GreenGeeks, you can rest easy knowing that your website is not leaving a carbon footprint, but instead reducing the amount of carbon in general.

This is done by carefully calculating how much energy our websites utilize, then we purchase three times that amount in clean wind energy, which means we don’t just compensate for our energy usage, we add more clean energy into the grid to offset others as well.

Another tactic we use is a strategic partnership with One Tree Planted. Every time a new account is created with us, we plant a tree. To date, we have planted 40,000 trees. Each tree acts as a carbon sponge, helping us lower global emissions.

On average, a single tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. That means the trees we have planted are responsible for removing 1,920,000 pounds of carbon each year as they grow.

Significance of your Website’s Carbon Footprint

One of the biggest problems facing the push to go green is the lack of understanding of what a carbon footprint actually means.

A carbon footprint is a measurement of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) that we create. It can be applied on a personal or business level.

The Green House effect is a process that happens in Earth’s atmosphere where the Sun’s heat is trapped by certain gases. While there are many heat-trapping gasses, none match Carbon dioxide when it comes to pure quantity.

In 2022, the annual carbon dioxide average was 418.56 PPM. To put this number into perspective, in 1960, it was just under 320 PPM. That’s a net increase of over 30%, which is causing the temperature around the world to rise.

This not only endangers wildlife, but humanity as a whole. Higher temperatures will damage food production as crops can only grow under certain conditions, not to mention melting polar ice caps.

As a result, the sea is rising, which puts coastal regions around the world at risk of flooding. Not to mention increasing the likelihood of natural disasters like hurricanes, as the water will also become warmer.

No matter how big or small your website is, the impact it has on the environment is unavoidable.

For example, let’s say you have a blog that barely gets any traffic. Regardless of the amount of traffic you have, the server hosting it will operate 24/7. So, you see, even the smallest of websites can still contribute greatly to climate change.

Only a green web hosting company can help solve this problem.

Data Centers Will Shrink Their Emissions Thanks to Technological Innovations

It’s important to point out that technological innovations are being made that will have a significant impact on data centers.

For example, one of the main challenges of any data center is keeping the servers cool. If they get too hot, the heat damages the hardware and can take them offline, which interrupts services.

For this reason, a lot of money and energy is spent on cooling systems.

Liquid cooling systems, in particular, are going to significantly change the way data centers operate as they can reduce cooling costs by 70% and further reduce the amount of electricity these centers utilize.

A more obvious example of innovations in the field can be seen by incorporating renewable energy.

In between 2015 and 2020, the carbon footprint of data centers remained flat despite electricity consumption increasing. This is due to the adoption of powering data centers through renewable energy.

Today, some of the biggest companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft power their data centers with 100% renewable energy.

There have also been efficiency improvements that have helped keep the overall energy needed to operate data centers from rising exponentially. In fact, the amount of computing done in these centers increased 550%, while the electricity consumption only rose 6%.

As technological innovations continue, data centers will ultimately see their impact on the environment shrink.

The problem is that the demand for data centers is outpacing the innovations.

AI Will Double the Demand for Data Centers by 2030

You may be thinking that the demand can’t keep increasing at its current rate, and you would be correct.

It’s going to get worse.

There has been a buzzword that is taking the tech industry by storm: Artificial Intelligence (AI). As virtually every major corporation enters an AI arms race with one another, the computing power these will require is staggering.

By 2030, the data center capacity in the United States will double as a result.

For those unaware, AI’s top-performing searches, data compilation, and conclusions made from inquiries in a matter of seconds takes a tremendous number of resources. And in no uncertain terms, everything will utilize some form of AI in the future.

For example, when you perform a Google search, you will now see an AI-generated answer at the top of most searches. Another example would be using AI plugins to help you manage a WordPress site.

Nearly every major company is expected to utilize AI by 2030, which will push demand higher than ever.

Earth Day Goals Everyone Can Commit To

This year, EarthDay.org has highlighted ways that everyone from individuals to businesses can go green by providing actionable toolkits that your business can follow.

The theme for Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics”, with a goal to reduce plastic production by 60% by 2040.

They are a great starting point for any business, so let’s go over some of the key points you will find.

Go Paperless

This might seem hypocritical considering this just creates more demand for data centers, but the benefits of going paperless cannot be ignored. Normally, businesses will use a lot of paper for filing documents, printing billing statements, and so on.

All of this paper comes at the expense of cutting down trees, which act as a natural carbon sponge.

Of course, for some businesses, the elimination of paper use is just not practical. Thus, your aim should be to reduce it significantly. A great tip is to ensure you print on both sides of the paper. And any paper you do need afterward should be recycled.

It has never been easier to go paperless, which is why most businesses today are pushing customers into paperless statements and trying to communicate exclusively through email. If this is an option, consider starting today.

Use Energy Efficient Devices and Lights

Office buildings big and small use a lot of energy under normal circumstances. One way to easily reduce that is by using energy-efficient appliances and lighting for the office. Doing so will save money, and lower your carbon footprint.

Let’s take a minute to look at the cost savings potential of switching to energy-saving lightbulbs.

Today, energy-saving refers to Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs that on average last 25,000 hours compared to the incandescent bulb that only lasts 750 hours. Over the course of its life, an LED bulb will save around $81 depending on your energy rate.

When you consider that a typical office building has dozens or even hundreds of lightbulbs, the savings are easy to see. The same logic applies to all kinds of appliances your office will need. You can identify energy-efficient devices by checking the packaging.

Turn Devices Off or Enable Auto-Sleep

Most office buildings are filled to the brim with computers, printers, and all types of devices. They can use a lot of electricity, thus ensuring they are off when not in or are in a low-power state can help cut your electricity usage.

This not only helps the environment but also helps save your business money. You may be wondering, how much money can it really save? Well, just putting a single computer to sleep can save between $10 to $50 depending on the device and electricity rate a year.

Luckily, it is incredibly easy to enable sleep-mode settings and only takes a few minutes.

Incorporate Renewable Energy

Ensuring that your business is powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric is a great way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint. And in the case of solar, it can actually save you a lot of money.

Solar energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels over the lifespan of the solar panel. The issue for many is that the initial price can be quite high. Another option is to offset what you use by purchasing clean energy.

This can help you lower or eliminate your carbon footprint altogether.

Find An Eco-Friendly Web Hosting Company

Every business needs a website because it allows your business to reach a wider audience. Today, the majority of consumers look online before entering a store to check out what it offers and if it is worth their time.

Thus, finding an eco-conscious web host is one of the most important steps you can take when making your business green. Depending on your website’s popularity, millions of people may view it.

That’s why partnering with a green web hosting company like GreenGeeks can ensure your website does not create a carbon footprint, and instead can be another way your business is being environmentally conscious.

GreenGeeks, a leading green web host, has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2009 and returns 3 times the amount of renewable energy we consume back into the grid.

Celebrate Earth Day 2024 By Signing Up for Green Web Hosting

Each year, everyone thinks about what they can do for Earth Day. The best part is that there is so much anyone can do to reduce their impact on the planet’s climate.

Switching to a green web host is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint without really changing much from a business perspective. In fact, plans at GreenGeeks are some of the most affordable in the industry with a month of service costing less than a cup of coffee each month.

Combine that with our excellent service featuring 99.9% uptime, lightning-fast speeds thanks to our SSD-powered servers, and a knowledgeable support team standing by to answer all of your questions.

Switching to GreenGeeks will not only lower your carbon footprint but also improve your website’s performance.

What is your business planning to do for Earth Day 2024?

The post Why Your Website’s Carbon Footprint Matters on Earth Day 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

While at this one-day event, make sure you stop by and speak with our very own Ericka Barboza and Rita Robles Loaiza. They’ll be available for any questions you may have or to simply chat.

They’re not just attending; Ericka and Rita are co-organizers of the event! So, I’d like to share a great deal of appreciation for helping to get Women WordPress Day put together.

What to Expect from Women WordPress Day

This year, there are several talks that span across a lot of great topics. From inspirational to technical, there is a great balance that is sure to offer a lot of excellent insights and information rolled into a single day.

Let’s take a look at a few:

• The Value of Being a Woman
  In this talk, Johanna Jiménez Varela goes over four important things to reinforce value within yourself and to understand the value you have as a woman.
• Title of the Work: Magenta, The Color of Change, Program Your Mindset
  Join Yannet Perez Lozada as she shares what it is to be a woman and a technologist in the 21st century in an ever-changing climate. It’s all about being in a state of completeness and being happy during the journey.
• Digital Technologies That Echo the Fight for Women’s Rights
  During this session, Charleene Cortez Sosa and Pamela Barrientos Vargas talk about the UNDP’s commitment to the use of digital platforms for future development. This helps strengthen institutional capacities and promotes access to information for women.
• Rest Before Update: Changes in the Operating System When Becoming a Mother
  Motherhood transforms women in a variety of ways. In this talk, Celia Sofía Altamirano Jiménez goes over balancing life with mental models for happiness and identifying ways to solidify leadership and decision-making skills.
• Female Voices in WordPress: Impact and Empowerment
  This talk is a panel featuring Lua Salazar Lira, Karen Méndez, Floribeth González Chavarría. Join the trio as they talk about transforming the WordPress platform with technical skill, innovative vision, and their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

At the end of the event, there is a photo op and a Wapuu vote. Not to mention coffee and networking. It’s sure to be a great day for those involved and we hope to see you there.

Enjoy Women WordPress Day in Costa Rica!

There are a lot of great topics and speakers at this year’s Women WordPress Day event. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Ericka and Rita and show appreciation for the work they do, as well as the other organizers, sponsors, attendees, and volunteers who make these events happen.

It’s these kinds of contributions that make the WordPress community one of the best in the world.

The post Women WordPress Day in Costa Rica 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Arriving for WordCamp Phoenix 2024

My short flight from LA was delayed by one hour due to a ground stop in Phoenix as it was raining quite a bit over there. That did not stop me from being excited and happy to be on my way to the camp.

As I was checking in the hotel, I ran into Marcus Burnette from GoDaddy, who was also staying at the same hotel. I had not seen Marcus since WordCamp Atlanta last year, so it was nice to quickly catch up.

After I was settled in my hotel room, I went down to the lobby to meet up with my team, Ericka Barboza and Marco Berrocal. By then, it was already time to head over to Arizona Wildness Brewing Co. where the speaker-sponsor dinner was being held.

Marcus was in the lobby with Courtney Robertson also from GoDaddy. I had never met Courtney in person, but we knew each other from the community’s social media, so we were formally introduced.

Since Marcus and Courtney were also headed to the speaker-sponsor dinner, they offered to share a ride with us.

Speaker-Sponsor Dinner

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. is located in Downtown Phoenix, in a very happening area of the city, full of restaurants, bars, and nightlife.

Because it was a cold night in Phoenix (which is rare for this time of the year), the dinner was held in the indoor area. When we walked in, the WordCampers were already there having drinks and eating delicious tacos.

We all joined in and had great conversations with many people, including Perri Collins, who was going to speak on the last day about a social media topic.

After we had been enjoying drinks and tacos, Raquel Manriquez, the WordCamp Phoenix 2024 Lead Organizer, went around all the tables and gave some thank-you gifts (cute painting sets) to each speaker.

I spotted Matthew Clancy, who was the Lead Organizer last year and we got caught up as well. Everyone in this community is so awesome!

First Day of Camp

WordCamp Phoenix 2024 was held at the Phoenix College which is one of the oldest community colleges in the country.

Ericka, Marco, and I walked in and got our registration badges. The first thing we did was to go thank the volunteers for all the work they do at these camps.

After setting up the booth, we started talking to people and giving out swag. Let the fun begin!

I went around the sponsor tables to say hi to the other sponsors whom I had known for a while. That included Chad Beatty with Rocket.net, Chris David Miles with Bluehost, Jen Swisher with Jetpack, and many others.

I also met a new sponsor I had not seen at other camps, CommercialNoise, led by Bruce Holland. We had a nice conversation about their hosting services and what they are all about.

On Day One, I was able to attend several presentations, starting with “The 2024 Remote Work Survival Guide” by Kathy Zant. I have known Kathy since 2019 and it was such a pleasure to listen to her presentation.

According to Kathy, it looks like although some major companies are moving employees back to offices, remote work is not going away. This is a good thing for many people, especially in this community.

Another interesting presentation I was able to attend was “AI Crash Course for WordPress Users” by Keanan Koppenhaver. I love that he kept saying that AI tools will still require human involvement.

After Keanan, Robbie Adair talked about “Using AI To Speed Up your WordPress Builds”. Looks like AI is of huge interest in the WordPress community.

Lunchtime

At lunchtime, we enjoyed delicious taco bowls in the outdoor area of the college and I had a chance to get caught up with Kathy Zant on her new position with Motivations AI. She spoke of how happy she is to work with great people such as Chris Lema and Jennifer Bourn whom I have known for a while.

After Day One of the camp was over, Ericka, Marco, and I decided to have a relaxed and delicious dinner at The Compass which is a well-known revolving restaurant located on the very top floor of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix.

As always, the food was delicious as was the wine, and the views of Downtown Phoenix were awesome. It was great to be able to share a special dinner and private time with my team.

I reminded them again how important they were to me and that I could not possibly do my job without them.

Day Two of Camp

On Day Two of Camp, I also was able to attend several presentations.

I watched Alicia St Rose talking about the “The Story of a Custom Post Type Lost in a Word of Pages” and Chris David Miles about “Understanding Your Customer Using Personas and Empathy Maps”.

I then listed to the fireside chat of Raquel with Jenny Poon and Odeen Domingo, who founded the largest coworking community in Arizona, CO+HOOTS in downtown Phoenix.

Later, I ran into Jen Miller whom I had not seen in a while and just started a position with WebDevStudios. It was nice to catch up with Jen.

I also met up with Bet Hannon with AccessiCart and we talked about a possible partnership with GreenGeeks.

All the presentations were really interesting but all of a sudden it was already time for closing remarks! Raquel thanked everyone, especially the sponsors and the volunteers who are an integral part of the camps and they truly deserved our appreciation.

Marcus Burnette did a giveaway on behalf of GoDaddy for a Nintendo game and the lucky winner was Perri Collins who had just given the last presentation of the day about Social Media.

The After Party

The After Party was also held at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in the outdoor heated covered patio of this European-style beer garden. It was a very chilly but clear evening, but the patio heaters and firepit really helped.

We sat and had drinks with the A2 Hosting Team and then we had a great conversation about WordCamps with Julia Golomb, a Community Team Organizer who lives in Northern California but travels around the world for camps.

We talked to a lot of people that night, Unfortunately, it was getting late and we had to head back to the hotel and get some rest. It had been two long and busy days and Ericka and Marco were going to have a long trip back to Costa Rica the next day.

The next morning, Ericka, Marco, and I met in the lobby for breakfast and for goodbyes.

But wait, it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later as I am sure we will meet again at WCUS in Portland in September!

Another WordCamp Phoenix Is in the Books!

A huge thank you to the organizers, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and of course, the Phoenix WordPress community. We love them.

Until next year!

The post WordCamp Phoenix 2024 – Recap appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

It was a WordCamp of firsts, no doubt, and it was just a fantastic one. Read along!

Getting to the Venue

The venue is located in downtown Zaragoza, just off the train station (Las Delicias Train Station) in a building called Etopia (not to be confused with Ethiopia like many of us did).

Etopia is a center for the arts, technology, science, and contemporary society. Once again, I like how organizers choose their venues, and this one was more than perfect. Centric, easy to get, has great room for sponsors, and good vibes in general.

Getting to Zaragoza was a bit difficult because Zaragoza is just at the border of what could be the beginning of the northeastern region of Spain. So, it was either Madrid or Barcelona the natural choice to enter, and then take a train/car to the venue.

Needless to say, getting there was hard, but getting around Europe itself is quite easy.

Zaragoza, is the former royal city of the Aragon Kingdom, who was the first European ruler of the city after the Mutism’s ruled in Spain for centuries. It lies in the Ebro river, which is a very important river within Spain and the city is beautiful to stroll, eat and hang out.

The venue, like I said, was a perfect distance from everything and we were good to go.

As usual, I arrived a few days before to scope out the venue to see the logistics of setting things up. As this was the first WordCamp we held in Europe, it was important for me to know the place beforehand to avoid surprises.

Speaker Party

Me and Selena Salustri, who came to Italy to her first WordCamp in Spain and a dear friend of mine being just an awesome person, we met in the train station in order to go to the venue when something I hadn’t seen in 20 years appeared.

Snow.

I mean, I was not expecting that one – no-one was. The organizers later said it hand’t snowed in Zaragoza in many, many years. It was magical at first, but then I remembered how much Canadians disliked it. I wasn’t prepared for it, had left my winter coat at the hotel. I couldn’t get to it and my shoes were obviously not winter ones.

So, there I was, chilling cold, with feet wet. Did I mention it was cold?

Needless to say, we got to the venue and then we went to the speaker/sponsor party which was at this restaurant called Aura, which was overlooking the Ebro river.

The view was fantastic because you could see the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar from afar, which is one of the landmarks of Zaragoza.

The party was great, I was pleased to see many of the friends I have known from the Spanish community that I’ve met in WordCamp Europe, such as Ohia, who unfortunately didn’t make it to WordCamp Europe last year.

We caught up, had food and drinks, and things were about to warm up, as they do sometimes at these parties. Eventually, it was time to go home because there was a big day tomorrow.

The Camp

The next day, it was time to get things going. I had my swag ready and the first thing I noticed was that it was still cold. It wasn’t as bad as the day before, but still cold, and I soon realized that it was also cold at the venue.

It turned out that the heating system was broken, and the company couldn’t fix it the day before since it snowed and the machine that fixes it couldn’t be exposed to water, etcetera, etcetera.

Thus, this was bar none the coldest WordCamp I had to attend.

No jackets were taken off during the entire Camp. It was ok, I mean I am pretty resilient to cold (was wearing a shirt and hoodie when it was snowing) so I was able to withstand it. Attendees were not to successful and you could see they were cold.

The organizers where aghast about the situation, but I just think these things happen. They are out of one’s reach and you have to make the best out of this.

Our swag, as usual, stunning, great and for the very first time in a very long time, we ran out of it. All of it!! It was such a great feeling.

It was also a great feeling of having people ask about us, because well, since we’re in Europe, not many of the attendees knew us, or had seen us before. So, it was a refreshing thing, the organizers were thrilled at having new sponsors tag along.

A couple of the things I noticed from the Spanish community is that one, they do by far the most camps out of ANY country in the world right now (maybe the US beats them?). And two, they are a very, very, very tight community in the sense of unity and good spirit.

The talks? I went to one, and it was a workshop by Carlos Diaz, who is from Madrid I believe. The workshop was about Google Tag Manager.

Great guy, great talk. I was interested in this one because I work a lot with programmatic ads, and knowing Google-talk as a developer is quite useful.

The Afterparty

Last day of the Camp, and the following day is Sunday. No waking up early, no rushing to the WordCamp, you would think it is time to party hard, right? Of course you are.

Although it didn’t seem like that at the beginning, WordCamps and its parties can be unpredictable. One minute you are in a museum eating fruit and you end up in a karaoke 5 hours later.

This was no exception.

The afterparty was at the venue, with free, unlimited beer (take note organizers!!) until 9:30PM when we were kicked out. People scattered and they went who knows where.

Me and Selena though, we made friends with the organizers from WordCamp Torrelodones, and they told us they were going to eat at a bar. So I said, alright let’s go.

When I arrived there, what a surprise. They were ALL there, plus other organizers from other parts of Spain, and we were at this authentic Spanish bar where they served real, homemade Spanish food.

The place was small, but the food was out of this world. So we ate, drank, and had a blast. The next thing I know, I was having a blast with the crew from Torrelodones, Jaime Garmar and Ana Cirujano.

I had a great time as it was a great party. And man, what a great WordCamp this was. One of firsts – snow, trains, Spain, new people, but that same vibe of community, friendship, knowledge and just good old WordPress.

Until next time!

The post WordCamp Zaragoza 2024 – Recap appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.