As a company that prides itself on providing our government, higher education and hospitality clients with cost effective, innovative ways to enhance sustainability, celebrating and supporting environmentally-friendly initiatives is important to us.
One particular initiative that we’ve discussed on our blog before is National Telework Week, and yesterday marked the start of the event’s 3rd year anniversary. Brought to you by Telework Exchange and Cisco, employees vow to work from home during the entire week in order to aide in minimizing their individual and our nation’s carbon footprint.
Last year, more than 71,000 people pledged to work from home for the first week of March, ultimately saving the planet $5,651,890, 3,453 tons of air pollutant, and 6,413,006 miles of gas fumes. Telework Research Network found that on average 20 to 30 million people work from home at least one day a week, while 3.1 million work from home full time – and if these figures continue to increase, carbon emissions will continue to decrease.
While employers may be weary of letting their staff work from home, studies have shown that not only will productivity increase but so will revenue – big time. Each employee that no longer makes the trip into the office will cut bills in half, resulting in savings worth thousands.
Teleworking was reportedly conceptualized back in the 1990’s during the Information Age when personal computers and high technology advancements really took hold. Then in 2010, President Obama declared his support by signing the Telework Enhancement Act, an act requiring Federal agencies to create policies for teleworkers, and Telework Week was officially born.
The idea of teleworking has its critics, but for one week negative connotations can, and should, be put aside for the greater good. The five-day event not only reduces waste for the week, but brings wide-spread awareness to the pollution problem that affects our planet every day, a critical first step towards improving our environmental future.
To join the movement and take the pledge, click here. To learn more about how The Refinishing Touch is helping our clients reduce their environmental impact through furniture asset management solutions such as refinishing, re-upholstering and remanufacturing, visit our website: www.therefinishingtouch.com.