Direct Visual, The UK's Leading Videoconferencing Supplier of TANDBERG, Polycom, Aethra, Sony, Codian, Cisco, Radvision

At Direct Visual, we consider global warming an important and serious issue and we are proactively addressing the threat of global climate change and trying to help others realise the importance of taking action sooner rather than later. We feel that to be as proactive as possible organisations need to initially calculate their carbon footprint, and then look at these key areas;

*Greenhouse gas emissions directly from their operations (for example use of petrol, diesel etc)
*Energy efficiency in their operations
*Technologies that eradicate the use of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases.

And we feel investment and development in all these areas is essential to help the environment recover.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By utilising technologies such as videoconferencing, audioconferencing and IP telephony, organisations can massively reduce their use of greenhouse gas emissions.

Although it is understood that many journeys are essential, and some impossible not to make, many journeys are avoidable and many unimportant. By giving staff the opportunity to conduct meetings from home or from their office headquarters an organisation is giving staff the choice of being environmentally responsible, a choice all employees should be given.

And not only will you be helping the environment and owning up to your corporate responsibility, you will be saving a fortune on your travel budget!

Energy Efficiency
Having an energy efficiency policy is massively important too. To have a truely green methodology of practice it is key that your staff understand why they are doing what they are doing.

Raising awareness around your organisation of the importance of turning off lights, PC monitors, Plasma Screens, videoconferencing systems, is paramount. If the staff don't understand why, they will never see purpose in doing!

New Technologies
Technologies such as videoconferencing and audioconferencing are vital technologies in the pursuit of making your business practices more 'green'. But other forms of technology should also be looked at. For example, swap out your company cars for Hybrid models, so those journeys that have to be made can be made, but can also be much more eco-friendly. The use of renewable energy sources is another, better publicised, way of reducing your carbon emissions, indirectly of course. But in terms of environmental impact is as good as you can get.

As the future moves ever nearer major electronics organisations are having to consider drastic action, including the removal of the 'stand-by' facility on Televisions, VCR's, DVD players, Projectors and all electrical goods. Why? Because an electrical product left in stand by uses up to 66% of the energy it does while in use. In Britain alone this is estimated that televisions left in stand-by use two power stations worth of energy, 7TWh (terra watt hours) of power, and produces over 480,000 tonnes of CO2 every year, what a waste!

Standby Emissions (CO2)
*Stereos - 1,600,000 tonnes per year
*Videos - 960,000 tonnes per year
*TV's - 480,000 tonnes per year
*Games Consoles - 390,000 tonnes per year
*DVD Players - 100,000 tonnes per year
*Freeview/Sky Boxes - 60,000 tonnes per year

Source: Energy saving trust