Could changing the way you work reduce your carbon footprint?
Every day millions of Britons endure the daily grind and commute to work. Although the average commuter only drives 12 miles a day, these miles contribute to nearly 40% of the CO2 emissions caused by cars.
Where and how you work has a huge impact on your carbon footprint
By working from home, or travelling to an office nearby, you can reduce the number of commuting miles you drive each week.
Advances in telephony and digital technology like the internet and remote access, has the potential to transform how we work. For example, surveys have found that some teleworkers who work from home can reduce their weekly mileage by as much as 193 miles.
What if I can’t adopt flexible working practices?
Videoconferencing can cut down the number of physical meetings staff travel to attend. Another, cheaper, option is audio-conferencing. It requires no equipment other than a standard telephone line, and eliminates travelling to and from meetings.
Flexible working conditions might not be a solution that everybody can use, but as new technologies emerge it becomes easier to include into working practices. By doing so the number of travelling miles, and CO2 emissions, are reduced.
Every BIG helps
- BT estimates that it saves 59 million car miles annually through audio-conferencing, and 14.2 tonnes in CO2
- By using videoconferencing the 45-strong team of PR Agency Mason Williams estimates that it cut its travel costs by one third
Three ways to get started on audio-conferencing
- If you have a BT line, sign up to a product like BT MeetMe
- Use Voice over IP (VOIP) software like Skype to call other Skype users through your computer, anywhere in the world, for free
- Sign up for a hosted service like the one provided through Miura Conference
Team Green Britain
and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic
Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies,
organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this
article. The content of this article has merely been provided as
background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the
environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of
Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations
noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and
may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to
undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures
applicable to their particular circumstance.