Broadband Brings Green Benefits

From telecommuting to smart utility grids to online shopping, broadband can make a considerable difference in protecting our planet.  In honor of Earth Day, our latest Broadband Now video discusses how broadband can contribute to a more sustainable future.

What specific benefits can connected conservation bring?  On the business front, telecommuting and video conferencing are yielding significant environmental benefits. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the 3.9 million people who work from home at least 1 day per week save 840 million gallons of oil annually.  And, 2008 saw a 20% jump in companies making investments in videoconferencing, which is far less taxing on the environment than traveling to a destination.

Leading U.S. companies are also making eco-friendly contributions.  AT&T recently announced plans to deploy 800 new CNG and hybrid electric vehicles in 2009--a move that will reduce carbon emissions over 10 years by an amount equivalent to the annual-emissions of nearly 40,000 gas-powered cars.  Verizon is also adopting hybrids, and at a recent wireless show in Las Vegas, the company touted mobile broadband's ability to enhance the efficiency of public utility grids through smart technologies. 

A new survey of IDC Green IT Forum participants shows that companies are implementing green IT initiatives due to their positive impact on business' bottom line.  In fact, 51 percent of respondents said their organizations' green IT efforts are motivated directly by cost savings.  And, in these challenging economic times, it's a win-win when conservation carries financial incentives as well. 

Broadband connects consumers with opportunities to make a positive environmental impact, as well as empowers them with greater global knowledge.  With Americans driving an average 14-miles round trip on shopping excursions, e-commerce has approximately a one-third smaller carbon footprint than going to a brick-and-mortar store.  And, thanks to broadband, American students are now able to connect with endangered ecosystems around the world in real-time via webcam.

Broadband is about far more than work and play; it's a dynamic tool that can actually help make a difference toward achieving a more sustainable world.  For more on broadband's green benefits, tune into our latest Broadband Now video.