NorthernTelework.ca

We already have the tools to help reduce the environmental footprint of our working lives. We just need the will to use them

OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada – June 5, 2007 – While the majority of Canadian and U.S. workers believe that business and government policies to encourage people to work from home could represent an effective way to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and address global warming, corporations continue to distrust teleworking, according to research conducted by Mitel.

Teleworking is now being recognised as potentially one of the most powerful “green “solutions for the US. Several factors are coming together to promote teleworking as the antidote to the culture of the five ton, 10 mile per gallon SUV. One of chief catalysts is broadband penetration and the corresponding consumer acceptance of all things Internet.

According to a study by the research company In-Stat, broadband is becoming “a mainstream, must- have residential service, evolving from a leading-edge service to a standard offering with mass adoption.”

“It shouldn’t be about how ‘green’ an organization’s information and communications technology operations are, but rather how much environmental benefit there can be in using these technologies to avoid or reduce environmental degradation, or in their application to mitigate environmental damage,” he says.

“For example, the present level of telecommuting or ‘telework’ in this country is absolutely miniscule. Yet…we all know it’s practical to have a significant portion of an office-bound workforce actually stay at home and work from a home office for perhaps two or three or even four days a week.

“The positive impact this would have on traffic congestion and pollution from cars would be enormous if even 20 per cent of the total workforce adopted these practices. Similarly, more and more companies are using distributed or ‘virtual’ call centres now, instead of requiring everyone to drive to a central building.”