Oh, My Aching Footprint

This month we’re deep in the middle of the process of mapping a firm carbon footprint here at InterCall.  Based on how we do business, we know that we have a smaller footprint than many corporations…no toxic chemicals or complex supply-chains to worry about.

But oh, the complexity! The actual calculations we’re turning over to a trusted, credible consultant and the PURE organization…that part is easy. But if your organization is anything like ours, you have to rally all the experts in different groups to provide the needed information to make this possible.

Do you find yourself becoming expert in things you never before needed (or wanted) to know? Telecom routing, server power management, travel policies and waste management…

The good thing is that everywhere I turn I find people who are excited about helping with this project! People want to be involved in improving the footprint of our business in a grass-roots way, so they can see that they’re making a difference. And since management supports the initiative, we have the freedom to spend a little time working on it. Win-win all the way around, truly.

How’s it going at your company? Send a comment to let me know!

Carolyn Campbell
Senior Director, Marketing Communications
InterCall

Comments

[Patricia Robb]

We are now burning conference materials onto CDs at my office to cut down on the paper handouts. People still want the PPT handouts so they can take down notes, but the papers (articles) we used to hand out are now on CD.

I wrote a few blog articles on Being Green in the Office and The Paperless Society: A Dream or a Necessity on my secretarial blog so I am trying to get the message out there.

I will pass this link to my daughter and niece who are really on board to "go green" as I think many of the younger generation are.

Thanks for this post.

[Martin Fox]

A major new development in the UK is the launch of a range of new investment funds that invest in companies that offer climate change solutions.
3 were launched last quarter, and at least a further 6 this quarter, including from some big names in the investment world. Is the same thing happening in the States?
Many advisers are now seeing this as a new asset class, and one with real growth potential in an uncertain investment world.

[Bill Carson]

Why is it that 'green' is determined by political philosophy (liberals are green but conservatives are not)? Doesn't that imply that there is something wrong? We all have a responsibility to USE natural resources wisely to increase productivity in order to raise the standard of living. Your efforts however seem to be reducing output (by spending time on non-business related activities) and therefore may be reducing productivity with a net decrease in the standard of living.

[shalika]

Is there anyone who has researched on the carbon foot prints and use of videoconferencing (instead of travelling). If there are any, I would be interested

Thanks