RISMEDIA, Dec. 29, 2007-PeopleCube recently issued its business trends and predictions for green initiatives in 2008. The company identified return on investment (ROI) as a critical factor for the growing number of companies, universities and facilities that will adopt environmental initiatives to reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions and paper use.
The Pressure to Go Green Will Intensify
Demand to “go green” from customers, employees and others is intensifying. People want to do business and work with companies that share their commitment to the environment. Similarly, on campuses across the country, the Go Green Initiative promoting environmental responsibility has enrolled more than 1 million students and teachers and is implemented in 37 states, as well as in Europe and Africa.
“In 2008 we’ll see more companies, universities and other organizations recognized for being environmentally responsible; as a result, their brand loyalty and image will be greatly enhanced,” said John T. Anderson, president and CEO of PeopleCube. “In fact, we’ll see green organizations enjoy a better employee retention rate and generate more interest from job candidates who see environmental consciousness as a critical requirement of their employment.”
Green ROI 101
2007 saw an explosion of companies that acknowledged the importance of implementing green initiatives and began undertaking conservation efforts. The momentum will increase in 2008, as more and more organizations realize that being environmentally responsible proves to be good business. Recent surveys find that return on investment is the driving force behind going green. More companies will look for solutions that are affordable and effective, and solutions that address these requirements, such as those below, will continue to grow in popularity.
Resource Scheduling Helps Conserve Natural Resources
In 2008 we’ll see resource scheduling technology playing an important role in supporting green initiatives as companies look for ways to help them reduce, reuse and recycle resources. For example, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems account for 40 to 60 percent of energy used in U.S. commercial and residential buildings, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, and even small reductions in energy usage can make a big difference. Businesses, universities and other organizations can integrate resource scheduling technology with HVAC systems to automatically adjust the temperature of a room based on its scheduled use. By controlling temperature automatically, facilities not only save money, they also help reduce harmful emissions from HVAC systems.
Office Hoteling Reduces Real Estate Costs and Carbon Emissions
Office hoteling, also known as hot desking or flexible workspace, empowers employees to telecommute and share offices as needed instead of having dedicated permanent workspaces, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
According to a Pace University study, every gallon of gasoline saved reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 22 pounds. Facility managers can create successful office hoteling arrangements by establishing practices, processes and technology to ensure the reliable and equitable availability of rooms, equipment and other resources. We’ll see more companies move in this direction to save on real estate costs, promote flexible work environments, and reduce emissions from commuting in the new year.
“Every company has at its discretion the opportunity to serve as a role model for environmental responsibility. We simply need to stop talking about it and start acting,” said Anderson. “Incremental steps, such as resource scheduling and office hoteling can and do have a major impact – companies don’t have to wait until they have the funds for constructing an eco-friendly building or implementing a major program. Every small step matters, and PeopleCube works with organizations large and small to help them get started right away.”
“Going green presents economic, brand and environmental benefits to organizations large and small, and the green trend will continue well into 2008 and the years to come,” said Anderson.
For more information, visit www.peoplecube.com.