The “Green” Bottom Line

Since the middle ages we’ve noticed the impact humans have had on the environment, though our attention to it as a critical issue is relatively recent. Now, as we begin to fully comprehend the impact of climate change on our world we’re forced to consider our response. The environment has ceased to be a fad and harsh reality has set in.

Many companies are struggling, however, with implementing a green approach. SearchCIO.com reported on a Forrester Research study, which found that even though 85 percent of IT procurement and operations professionals in U.S. companies believe environmental concerns are important in planning IT operations, 78 percent had not written it into their evaluation and selection criteria for IT systems and devices.

For companies looking to do “something” rather than “nothing” a two-pronged approach is possible. The first involves a change to the IT infrastructure with systems and desktop devices that can significantly reduce energy requirements. On the most basic level switching from CRT monitors to LCD screens and desktop computers to laptops can reduce the drain on any company’s energy resources. On the next level, greening of the data center can be achieved with server consolidation and server virtualization.

Communications products like the Mitel Applications Suite, which bundles popular applications onto a single server also meet this need. As does the Mitel Sun Ray™ Unified IP Client, which integrates the Sun Java card into Mitel’s award-winning IP phones. This nifty wallet-sized technology lets companies centralize desktop processing in the data center—by using Sun Ray thin client hardware. Stephen Beamish, Mitel’s vice president of business development and strategic alliances, points out that compared to the average 80 watts used by a PC, Sun Ray thin client “uses just four watts of power.” Both the Mitel Applications Suite and Sun Ray Unified IP Client are much-needed ‘green’ options that can significantly reduce a company’s emissions and save money.

The second approach involves the adoption of communications applications that enable collaboration, while reducing travel—one of the greatest sources of carbon emissions. Mitel Audio and Web Conferencing and Mitel Your Assistant™ are both examples of time and travel saving collaboration options available as part of a green unified communications solution.

It is unlikely that travel will entirely disappear from the business landscape. Some business must be done face-to-face. Still, improved choices in audio, video, and Web collaboration can significantly reduce the need to undertake a significant portion of typical business-related travel—again reducing both overhead costs and minimizing a company’s carbon footprint.

An unexpected source of substantial work-related travel also occurs in the form of employee commuting. Applications like the Mitel Teleworker Solution offer a simple, intuitive option to enable employees to work effectively at home or in communitybased work locations. The payoffs for teleworking are numerous, including increased productivity, an expanded geographical hiring pool, reduced need for overhead, and a further reduction in emissions. And if that’s not enough, PC World reports that teleworking can cut corporate real estate costs from 25 percent to 90 percent. Going green can really mean more green to the bottom line.

For companies looking to implement emission-reduction solutions, Mitel offers numerous options. Electricity savings from energy efficient phones and systems, server virtualization and server consolidation, plus business process improvements via collaboration and teleworking, all mean companies can now make the right choice and go green.