Some large enterprise executives, staff, and economists are among those who doubt that implementing energy efficient network and telephony gear today will have a positive benefit. A theory that came alive during the oil crisis of the 1970s known as the Khazzoom-Brookes Postulate that states, "reductions in energy intensity of output that are not damaging to the economy are associated with increases, not decreases, in energy demand." This theory goes on to state that "improvements in energy efficiency lead to ever and ever-greater levels of energy usage."
Some large enterprise executives, staff, and economists are among those who doubt that implementing energy efficient network and telephony gear today will have a positive benefit. A theory that came alive during the oil crisis of the 1970s known as the Khazzoom-Brookes Postulate that states, "reductions in energy intensity of output that are not damaging to the economy are associated with increases, not decreases, in energy demand." This theory goes on to state that "improvements in energy efficiency lead to ever and ever-greater levels of energy usage."Now, I know when I spoke with John Howe, President of Howe Engineering, he's down-to-earth fluent when it comes to any energy discussions including global change, warming and pretty much anything to do with the energy straightjacket. John has extensively researched, lectured and written a book. He also designs, then builds solar powered gadgets out of scrap such as old cars, golf carts and farm tractors--and they work. The implication of the Khazzoom-Brooks Postulate is the more energy we save, the more energy we consume better or more efficiently. John argues in his book that the world's exploding population is the driving force, and some others agree with him. In 1970, the world population was estimated at 3.692 billion and today the estimate is 6.664 billion. If there were no energy improvements during this timeframe, then wouldn't we be worse off now?
Still, when I wrote Powering Down, I concluded as I do again, that you either allow the Postulate or the energy straightjacket to paralyze your thinking and actions; or you move on and act. CEOs are beginning to see that consumers are buying green. Executives are also beginning to ask what their companies can do to leverage green efforts for corporate image, improved sales and reduced costs. As L-enterprise collectively looks at environmental issues and evaluates a holistic view about what their company can do effectively to capture more sales and profit or protect the revenue they have, they will improve their image not just because they are greening, but shareholders and customers embrace green efforts. Either way, greening is more than likely to benefit the organization than it is to hurt it, provided there's some financial prudence of course.
One reader stated that his company was looking at using UC for telecommuters. Then, just hours earlier I heard from another reader about the tendency of the IT department to not look at the details and expect the CFO to approve their requests without further analysis. When it comes to energy, greening, going green or conservation efforts, you will soon discover that it's not just changing light bulbs, and that only an ongoing analysis will suffice. The tendency is easily to become over-analytical or to think that you've done everything possible to be effective.
In Teleworkers- the Goldmines, I believe that not only are the benefits there to improve an organization's energy efficiency but given the right climate - and I do think it exists with existing market pressures (environment, rising fuel prices, economy) that a larger deployment of enterprises' workforce to the home would reap greater benefits. If the UC experts are right- then work can be done anywhere, anytime, and management's role is to provide the right resources and the right environment.
So, if you have time to read the Postulate, then you will note that there's a focus on driving and that motor vehicle usage is increasing worldwide. I think that if L-enterprise decision makers consider the below observations, then determine what UC mix can cost-effectively be deployed for telecommuters, maybe then not only will they (you) gain efficiencies but you will also set yourselves up for a new generation workforce unlike what we have today.
Then lastly, IT and telecommunications- both of you guys/gals whether or not you are one in the same and can come up a solid solution serving the needs with as a reader said to me - "using UC for telecommuters," then I think that this (using UC for telecommuters) does have merit and a big and positive impact in reducing energy by having workers move their work to home and keeping it at home. Thus, their savings in energy (fuel) will improve, as hopefully will their personal economic situations.
For corporations to successfully leverage a significant teleworker force through UC deployment and to say they're saving energy by keeping its workforce off the road and at home working may have a greater positive net effect. Cubicle farms aren't cheap and neither is the infrastructure supporting the occupants. The same is true for the existing U.S. infrastructure, which is in disrepair. In lieu of building more infrastructure, UC has a far better chance of getting approved if you rightly apply UC where it's needed and where it should be for the greatest return. Like anything else, the mileage will vary.
Observations
The US has a growing national infrastructure problem. Part of this problem includes the highways, roads and inter-state highway system. Road congestion continues to increase as does pollution and wasted energy from having commuters waiting, idling on the highways and roads to get to and from their places of work.
The US consumer personal debt is $2.51 trillion USD. US consumers today hold less than 50% equity in their homes/net worth, a significant decrease since the mid 1950's of 85%. Most personal savings and retirement savings are lacking, non-existent or not enough to fund a disaster, job loss or retirement.
At the beginning of the 20th century, approximately 5% of US workers were employed as office workers, today, at least 50% are employed in office settings.
The US consumer personal debt is $2.51 trillion USD. US consumers today hold less than 50% equity in their homes/net worth, a significant decrease since the mid 1950's of 85%. Most personal savings and retirement savings are lacking, non-existent or not enough to fund a disaster, job loss or retirement.
At the beginning of the 20th century, approximately 5% of US workers were employed as office workers, today, at least 50% are employed in office settings.
At the beginning of the 20th century, approximately 5% of US workers were employed as office workers, today, at least 50% are employed in office settings.
