Want to boost morale, save money, bridge gaps between departments and do the world some good in the process? Sustainable technology use may be right up your alley.
Advancements in Advancements
Historically, many technological advancements that propelled humanity forward negatively impacted sustainability. Today, that tide is turning. Many technology products and services can help to balance resource production and consumption and to ensure the ongoing availability of critical resources.
Benefits of Using Sustainable Technology
Using more sustainable technologies can benefit your organization, its communities, and the world at large. Here are four big advantages:
1. Energy efficiency — Using energy-efficient devices engineered to consume less energy and enabling energy-efficiency settings in devices (think: sleep settings in computers and monitors) lowers energy costs. Other energy-saving opportunities for your organization include:
- Energy-efficient appliances and machines provide the same power-saving benefits to businesses they deliver to homeowners. Some are unique to office settings like copiers, but many are crossover appliances, such as refrigerators and microwaves.
- Intelligent climate control systems deliver only heating and cooling when and where needed.
- Smart lights conserve energy inside and outside while also improving security and visibility.
- Hybrid workforce optimization can be modified for sustainability, too. For example, leveraging your remote workforce technology to create a “dark” office day each week can significantly reduce energy consumption.
- Energy-efficient windows, insulation and other building materials can complement your tech-centered sustainability efforts.
2. Waste reduction — The “go green” initiatives that kicked off in-office environmental responsibility movements decades ago still hold merit today. Examples include:
- Paperless (or nearly paperless) initiatives that reduce consumption and waste.
- Replacing disposable plastic bottles with refillable water bottles reduces intraoffice waste while helping curb the global plastics pollution problem.
- Office composting programs benefit the environment and communicate a strong commitment to sustainability.
3. Employee engagement — Today’s employees are more environmentally conscious than the generations before them. Sustainability programs, including those centered on technology initiatives, help to deliver the responsibility punch that so many employees find vital to satisfaction with their employment. This translates to advantages across the board in recruitment, engagement, and retention.
4. Cost savings — Sustainability efforts, when done right, can deliver self-evident ROI:
- Reduced power consumption translates to lower electricity bills.
- Paper reduction reduces office supply and waste management costs.
- Employee engagement and retention increase productivity and reduce employee turnover costs.
How to Get Started
Getting started in technology-driven and complementary sustainability is easier than you think. You can get rolling in five simple steps.
1. Secure management support — Communicate the company’s commitment to sustainability by securing management support. For SMBs, this means owners and managers. For enterprises, you’ll need broader c-suite support.
2. Organize an internal team — Sustainability initiatives offer opportunities to bridge departmental divides. Since smart tech crosses many departments (not just IT), develop a committee of stakeholders from multiple departments. Office and facilities managers are essential participants if you have them.
3. Identify sustainable technology opportunities — Ask your committee members to identify opportunities for technology-driven improvement in their departments and evaluate them for ROI.
4. Identify complementary sustainability opportunities — Identify other opportunities for sustainability (e.g., composting) that can complement your tech-driven sustainability efforts and deliver more punch to your program.
5. Create scorecards to track your progress — Create scorecards tracking the impact of your efforts. It’ll motivate your team and give you some great, positive-impact news to share companywide.
