Businesses and employees both want to be environmentally friendly. Using a VoIP solution for all types of internal and external communication can make a huge difference in how the business cares for the earth’s ecosystem.

 

But servicing a VoIP phone system requires an incredible amount of energy; to operate the Internet, maintain network communications and data centers as well as other resources, so many telecom analysts claim that VoIP cannot be considered “green” technology. This premise is easy to accept because data centers that house VoIP and SIP Trunking equipment are filled with environmentally unfriendly components. Ecologically safe disposal of computers and electronic components is difficult and frequently people simply ignore the risks. Contamination occurs every time a CRT is tossed into a landfill because it releases mercury, lead, cadmium and flame-retardants into an already threatened ecosystem.

 

None of these facts support the claim that VoIP/SIP Trunking is a green technology, yet there are other consumer products that are touted as being green (such as hybrid automobiles) that are not completely eco-friendly either. Commonly accepted as a green technology or at least greener than conventional gas or diesel-powered cars, hybrids themselves are not completely green. Hybrids still use gasoline, oil, antifreeze, processed plastic, rubber tires, batteries full of hazardous chemicals and potentially damaging electronics, but when compared to automobiles with few or no elements of green technology, they are definitely a more eco-friendly choice. Why? Even though hybrids are built with components that are not green, the electric motors or rechargeable batteries they use make them greener than their conventional counterparts.

 

Following this logic, VoIP and SIP Trunking are definitely greener than the alternative, existing TDM technology. A side by side comparison of the equipment and technologies reveals why. The servers used to operate IP networks use less energy, require less cooling and are less massive than the central offices and tandem switches they are replacing. The carbon footprint of a traditional central office complex is much greater than that of a similarly sized (traffic capacity) Broadvox (News - Alert) data center. The cost and material required to build a data center for SIP Trunking services is less than half that of a TDM switching center. The reduction in energy use for power and cooling can be up to 40 percent. The improvement is so significant that IP communications can easily claim the position of being a green communications service. Transitioning to VoIP/SIP Trunking is clearly a key step toward being a good steward of the earth.

 

Additional support to demonstrate that the IP ecosystem is green is that it allows for more telecommuters while providing more features and benefits to those workers. Two years ago, the Consumer Electronics Association (News - Alert) commissioned a study that identified 3.9 million telecommuting American workers. At that time, it was estimated those workers saved 840 million gallons of gasoline per year, resulting in the prevention of 14 million tons of CO2 emission. According to a report published by the Texas Transportation Institute, travelers spend the equivalent of one full work week each year waiting on expressways. The corresponding amount of carbon emissions could be eliminated simply by permitting workers to telecommute. Obviously, all of those numbers have increased since those statistics were gathered. Moreover, the technology supported by IP communications has expanded as well. One relatively new technology supported by IP communications is telepresence conferencing, which should increase the number of telecommuters and decrease the number of people flying to various meetings. The obvious savings is fuel consumption, but there are several additional positive impacts on the environment.

 

·         Telecommuters use less paper than their office counterparts.

·         Telecommuters require less business office space, reducing the amount of construction materials, land, heating and air conditioning.

·         Telecommuters tend to leverage their personal equipment in the performance of their jobs, requiring fewer computers, printers, phones and fax machines.

·         Telecommuters contribute to reducing traffic congestion, thereby improving commuting times and reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions for everyone.

 

In addition to ITSPs like Broadvox, VoIP phone systems are jumping on the bandwagon and becoming environmental friendly, with renovated technology that makes their systems more energy efficient. Internet-related activities already consume nearly 4 percent of North America’s power supply and the number is going to increase with added VoIP features, such as video conferencing, one-click dialing, etc. Understanding this, without sacrificing any technological advances, VoIP proponents have started developing new ways to utilize VoIP features without consuming so much energy and being wasteful. Some recent technological advances VoIP phone system providers have delivered are:

 

Telephone VoIP Adapters, which enable businesses to adjust their existing phone lines and infrastructures to be VoIP compatible. This allows existing desktop handsets to gain access to many enhanced VoIP features. This eliminates the expensive, time-consuming and environmentally unsafe need to rip out old wiring from walls and dump old handsets in landfills.

Fax over IP (FoIP), which allows faxes to be transmitted via the Internet rather than the analog method of sending them through telephone lines. This enables fax machines to work with a packet-based network which requires less bandwidth, less consumption of energy, and protects employees from exposure to paper dust and potentially toxic toners.

 

By implementing a series of simple and affordable steps to make business operations greener, it is possible to:

 

·         Reduce operating expenses and improve efficiency through waste reduction and energy conservation.

·         Stand out when environmentally aware customers are selecting suppliers.

·         Capitalize on Federal, State and Local tax and financial incentives to be eco-friendly

·         Conserve natural resources and reduce the carbon footprint.

·         Attract and retain employees who prefer to work for an organization that has earth-friendly values.

 

In addition to the potential savings of up to 70 percent on telecom cost through VoIP/SIP Trunking, all of the positive ecological reasons should inspire businesses to carefully evaluate their stance on environmental responsibility and start transitioning to IP communications to demonstrate their good citizenship.

 

VARs should target companies with green initiatives with this message. This is clearly an additional market that IP communications can service proudly. The increase in market penetration of IP communications will help the environment and reduce green house gases. As a premier SIP Trunking provider and ITSP, Broadvox knows that being a green technology feels pretty good! Go VoIP! Go Green!