Facilities Management journal, November 2006

Smart Working helps FTSE companies meet carbon emission targets

There is no escape from environmental issues in the corporate world today, with growing pressures on businesses to act responsibly and manage energy conservation to governed standards. However, it is reported that only 6% of FTSE 250 companies set targets for their carbon emissions. But this may soon change as the government and the European Union are considering adding carbon emissions to corporate governance. In extreme cases, there is a possibility that organisations will be fined if they do not meet the carbon emissions targets.

However, this apathy is not reflected by FTSE 100 companies with over 81% now reporting their carbon emissions. This recent surge in business consciousness now means that forward thinking companies are reviewing their practices and processes to create working conditions that respect and protect the global environment. One of the main areas that companies are currently reviewing is how to make the best use of office space. Recent studies have indicated that up to 30% of allocated desks are not utilised at any one time, and this under utilisation has a massive impact on the carbon footprint of a company.

To reverse this trend, companies are increasingly implementing ‘Smart Working’, where employees can reserve a desk whenever needed, in whatever location suits their movements. This is no longer simply seen as the free for all that was synonymous with ‘Hot Desking’, but as a controlled method of providing more flexible working while helping to maximise the available office space. Companies are turning to technology to assist with change. The software industry has addressed this challenge by developing various applications that are designed specifically to help manage the available desks and provide flexible working.

One company leading the way in workspace management is RNM Systems, a business who specialises in smart working solutions. They have recently expanded their range of software to include desk and car-parking booking modules, which help tackle the problems of underused resources.

Paul Statham, director of RNM Systems, said: “We felt that our product range should include workspace management solutions that reduce waste and therefore help the environment. We are confident that by using the right software, a company can manage its desk usage efficiently without alienating its workforce.”

Research has shown that by managing desk usage, a company with 800 employees can reduce the desks required by up to 200, which in turn significantly reduces its carbon emissions. Not only does this Facilities Management Journal Case Study The Month in FM help the environment, but based on the average cost of a workspace in London now running at over £9,000, in this example, it would provide a cost saving of almost 2 million pounds per year.

One example where a FTSE 100 company has managed to reduce its carbon emissions is a leading global drink company who has introduced a ‘Green Travel’ scheme with the aim was to cut down on carbon emissions by reducing the number of car journeys to the office. The scheme encourages people to travel and work more flexibly by reducing the number of parking days available to each member of staff, thus promoting car sharing and smarter working. The outcome was a reduction in car use by over 50%.

One way of implementing change without causing undue concern to the workforce is being pioneered by RNM Systems. They believe in using a ‘phased implementation approach’ where desk or parking utilisation software is installed to monitors usage. This identifies the areas of low utilisation, where employees may be working from home, visiting clients or attending meetings. The software can then be used to manage a more flexible use of workspaces, which allows the company to consolidate its office space, reduce carbon emissions and potentially save millions in costs.

Press contact:

Ms Lynda Lowe
RNM Systems Ltd
225 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9FW
Email: press@rnmsystems.co.uk
Tel: 020 7001 2023

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