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We all know the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. Save money and reduce your emissions with these simple-to-implement ICT solutions.
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eb usiness
fi les How green is
your office?
How green is your office?
We all know the importance of reducing our carbon footprint.
Save money and reduce your emissions with these simple-to-implement ICT solutions.
1. Maximise computer efficiency 2. Print smarter
FACT During the day, setting your computer to go to sleep FACT The average office worker goes through 10,000 sheets
automatically during short breaks can cut energy use by of paper a year. (Source: www.epa.gov)
70%. Remember, screen savers don’t save energy.
(Source www.middleeastdirectory.com) • Think before you print and go paperless when possible –
could the information be shared online instead? If you
• Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, haven’t already heard, you can now share documents
allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity safely with colleagues and clients using the internet by
signing up to an online workspace. Users can have their
• Unplug your charger when you're not charging up the own log in, and all you need to do is upload the
battery information you want to share with people.
The Centre for eBusiness recommends Google Docs
• In your computer settings, lower the brightness and and Huddle Workspaces as good examples of free
resolution of the screen so that it consumes less online document sharing solutions
energy
• There are also online solutions for sharing presentations,
• Think about implementing a policy to invest in energy– so you don’t need to print them as handouts for a
saving computers, monitors, and printers. Using less workshop for example. The Centre for eBusiness
power means cheaper electricity bills! recommends SlideShare, the free online
presentation sharing tool
• Make sure that old equipment is properly recycled or
even donated to another organisation. If you are • If you can’t find a way to share the information online
recycling old computer equipment, look for a recycler and have to print, why not find out if your printer is
that has pledged not to export hazardous e–waste and capable of printing double sided?
to follow other safety guidelines.
3. Develop a ‘green purchasing’ policy 4. Rethink your travel
• Gain the competitive edge over your competitors when FACT BT claims to have reduced its carbon footprint by 97,000
you’re bidding for work, and show that your tons (15%) of CO2 per year, by using videoconferencing to cut
organisation is forward thinking by creating a ‘green back on staff travel for meetings. (Business Week)
statement’. This is simply a statement about your
business which shows that you will commit to BT has also eliminated 860,000 face-to-face meetings. Each
improving your CO2 emissions as part of your ongoing call also saves around £178 in travel costs and frees up £120
activities. in management time for more productive tasks. Over the last
year this equated to a £238m total saving (Environmental
• Think about creating a policy to purchase office Leader)
supplies and furniture made from recycled materials.
• Instead of travelling long distances to go for single
• Carbon Footprint Ltd have released a paper on how to meetings, why not think about investing in video
Sell More by Going Green – A Green Marketing Guide – conferencing? It will save you money and time in the
it’s worth a read if you’re interested in following this long run
up, as it takes you through the ins and outs of The Centre for eBusiness recommends measuring
developing a Green Strategy. your CO2 emissions using an online calculator such
as this one we found on the BT website, so that
you can see where improvements can be made.
• There are also solutions if you want to share ideas with
groups of people, get opinions on new ideas and even
develop brands.
The Centre for eBusiness recommends Google
Groups as a good example of a free online
collaboration tool.
The Centre for eBusiness recommends … Webliography
The Centre for eBusiness papers: Planet Green - Going Green at Work: Top Tips
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-
“Free and low cost ICT tools: make your business more work/green-work-tips.html
green”
NRCD - How to Reduce Your Energy Consumption
“Reduce your carbon footprint – a CBI methodology” Tips for conserving electricity and cutting your energy costs
http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp
CO2 Savings Calculator
Please feel free to email The Centre for eBusiness at http://www.conferencing.bt.com/infocentre/casestudies/co2_
info@centreforebusiness.eu or call us on 0191 487 2002 to calculate.jsp
get your hands on any of these papers.
The listing of a person or organisation in this publication does not imply any form of endorsement by The Centre for eBusiness, this document is for educational purposes only. Links
to other websites have been inserted for your convenience and do not constitute endorsement of material at those sites, or any associated organisations, products or services. The
Centre for eBusiness cannot be held responsible for actions arising from the use of these materials.
Copyright The Centre for eBusiness 2010
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for eBusine
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