Besides the obvious importance of social responsibility and the consequence of being a global citizen, having a Green reputation is an important competitive advantage. For improving brand value, over half of global consumers are more likely to purchase from companies with strong environmental reputations. And within your own workforce you can raise employee morale as well as engage and empower employees since 80% of people prefer to work for organizations that are environmentally friendly.

Video is a workable green solution available today. The eco-advantage is immediate when staying off the roads and out of the skies means adding less CO₂ to the atmosphere. The average user reduces unnecessary meeting travel by 30%. Visual telecommuting programs attract and empower employees. Here are some companies that have had a true environmental impact by leveraging videoconferencing:

• Vodafone: Saved over 13,500 flights per year through videoconferencing, reducing carbon emissions by over 5,000 tons. Realized ROI in one year.
  
• HSBC: CIO’s 14 direct report are equipped with desktop video as part of the company’s worldwide environmental initiative.
  
• Scott Co., TN: Distance learning program increased number of students with access to resources, saved $19,000 in fuel costs, and 3,124 tons of CO2 annually.
  
• Swedish Customs Service: Holds 60 videoconferences per month, for “a direct reduction in C02 emissions by 7 tons each and every month.”

It’s easy to imagine that implementing video to reduce travel will reduce cost, but there are many productivity benefits that come along as well. We can just talk about a few scenarios here.

1. Video allows you to get your best and brightest all together in one place when you need them, without waiting for them or materials to arrive. That means you can make decisions faster.
   
2. You may have remote expertise in one area of your organization. Why send them out into the field if you can enable them with video to provide remote diagnostics, repair, or just advice.
   
3. Keeping everyone in the organization on the same page is another benefit of video. You can share information on new policies in real time, maybe a town hall meeting, right down to the desktop.
   
4. And finally, work/life balance improves when people don’t have to travel. That means you have an easier time recruiting and retaining employees. And they are more productive as a result.

Getting Started

No one is perfect. This is a long road and we are certainly not there yet either. Based on past experiences, we wanted to share with you some suggestions of how to move forward. We hope that videoconferencing can play one part in your action plan for environmental responsibility.

• Meet or beat environmental regulations for your industry
• WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
• RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances)
  
• Build programs for facilities and operations
• Recycling
• Printing/purchasing
• Travel reduction/telecommuting
  
• Get a baseline audit
• Consultants, Academics
• EPA Climate Leaders, CERES
• Build a team and find a champion
• Publicize your success internally