Examples of "Green IS"
+++From: http://daysofchange.org/support/organisation-pledges/increase-use-of-teleconferencing-and-video-conferencing.aspx?idPledge=50d8927d-645e-4dda-9b44-a0216785c679&idGroupType=2a9cdea0-f7d2-440d-a187-9ce800cc858a
Avoid 10% of scheduled business air travel through increased use of webinars, teleconferences, videoconferences
Replace at least one out of ten business trip with a teleconference, and save time and money while reducing your ecological footprint.
Air travel is much more damaging to the environment than train, bus or car travel.
The first reason is that planes make it possible for people to travel vast distances which was previously impossible or very restricted prior to the age of modern jet travel. Vast distances travelled equate to vast amounts of fuel consumed. This means high levels of CO2 produced, and also exacerbates the problem of peak oil, where the world is rapidly approaching the point at which oil reserves start to diminish rapidly, thereby pushing fuel prices skywards (pun intended).
As well as CO2, planes also emit nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, soot and water vapour directly into the atmosphere at high altitudes. The effect of these contrails on the environment may be double that of ground travelĀ (1).
By reducing the amount of flights your employees take each year by increasing the use of video- and tele-conferencing, you'll be reducing your ecological footprint substantially, and you will significantly reduce your organisation's travel costs.
Video or phone-conferencing is much quicker, cheaper and more convenient than business travel - saving administration time lost in booking flights and accommodation, valuable working hours lost sitting on planes and in airports, and money spent on restaurant meals and taxi fares. There is no risk of turning up tired, washed out and cranky from hours on the 'red-eye', or losing your luggage on the walk to the boardroom.
Here are some answers to some of the most common questions around this pledge
- What if my organisation doesn't have video conference facilities?
- How can staff reduce their footprint even if they have to fly?
- What if my business can only be conducted face to face?
What if my organisation doesn't have video conference facilities?
Give Skype a go. It is completely free and easy. All you and the person you wish to call needs are:
- a computer with a video camera, microphone and speakers. Most laptop computers have these built in.
- a free Skype account.
If you need to deliver a slideshow presentation, you can even share this via Skype!
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How can staff reduce their footprint even if they have to fly?
For some people it is impossible to avoid flying completely. In these cases the advice is to try to combine as many possible trips into one longer trip. Encourage your staff to fly just once and achieve multiple things. Of course travel in economy class has a smaller footprint than travel in business or first class, so choosing that option is also better.
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What if my business can only be conducted face to face?
Video conferencing is high quality and high resolution, and you can hire the equipment short term at a much lower real and environmental cost than flying.
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