President Obama issued an executive order a few days ago that will go a long way to kick-starting government’s examination of new ways to meet and collaborate. The order states:
“As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the Federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally-responsible products and technologies,” said President Obama. “This Executive Order builds on the momentum of the Recovery Act to help create a clean energy economy and demonstrates the Federal government’s commitment, over and above what is already being done, to reducing emissions and saving money.”…
Implementation of the Executive Order will focus on integrating achievement of sustainability goals with agency mission and strategic planning to optimize performance and minimize implementation costs. Each agency will develop and carry out an integrated Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan that prioritizes the agency’s actions toward the goals of the Executive Order based on lifecycle return on investments. Implementation will be managed through the previously-established Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, working in close partnership with OMB, CEQ and the agencies.
While much of the order focuses on sustainable sources of energy, the targets open the door to using Web and virtual world based tools, in particular the goal of reducing vehicle fleet petroleum use by 2020 by 30%. While this could be achieved through fleet replacement, it could also be reduced through less travel time and, well, virtual meetings.
It strikes me that the virtual world industry, or specific platforms, could leverage the executive order by issuing clear guidance and statistics on how virtual worlds for collaboration have a direct impact on energy conservation and sustainability. While not carbon neutral (we need power to run our computers after all), virtual worlds nonetheless offer a way to avoid unnecessary travel while maintaining engagement.
Our work with Immersive Workspaces(TM) has provided one set of metrics in this area and I know that others have measured ROI including reduced travel expenditures. But maybe it’s time for a mini consortium to put some figures to this and get it circulating at the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive.
Lets see an online virtuality “industry” first…a sustainable economy based on resources and people both real and virtual.
Then asking it to contribute might make sense.:)
When it comes to a carbon and garbage footprint, the tech industry isnt exactly coming from a place of “good ideas and practices”
oh yeah, were selling beta/obsolete software and hardware yearly, sorry,.i forgot…;)
nevermind;)
half kidding.
Good find, Dusan. Virtual worlds are poised to save the government and corporations millions (billions?) of dollars in meeting/travel/conference expenses.
The actual exec order includes the following:
“implementing strategies and accommodations for transit, travel, training, and conferencing that actively support lower-carbon commuting and travel by agency staff;”
Great stuff! And hat tip to Pais for the link.
Hi Dusan, you’re welcome for the link. When I was reading the Executive Order today I was too rushed to blog it myself, plus tons more eyeballs here anyway. Of course it takes energy to keep those sims persistent – I remember we talked about it a while back:
http://paiskidd.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/not-so-virtual-carbon-footprint-of-an-avatar/
Agreed Pais – but compared to the costs for X people to drive to the airport, fly, taxi to meeting? The amount of hot air generated in a typical business meeting is another issue.
Oh yea, by far it is a net better advantage carbon *and* time-wise, since normally we have to spend at least a day’s worth of time when we fly to a meeting.
Another aspect:
I have yet to see metrics that quantify the quality of of communication comparing along the text-email-phone-webcast-video chat-virtual world-real world continuum.
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Hmmm – Pais, SUCH a good point. Multi-modalities I think increases retention of data – but I wonder what the best measurement methodology would be.
Maybe we get people to watch Metanomics and another group to attend and see which group remembers more from the show!
Great post (as always) and with more options coming online, such as Reaction Grid, virtual world space makes more and more sense.
I am partial to Second Life for many reasons, but with my exposure to Reaction Grid (thanks to Jokay), I now see options that may be a better “fit” for many businesses and educators.
Thanks on the post!
Reaction Grid is coming along well. Ive put more resources into it.Next week Im launching a set of meeting spaces and officepodz/campus modules all targeting professional b2b/ educational audiences.
Next year will see great changes in this SL blogosphere.The first change I expect will be the reversal of the “sl avatar” name usage in non Linden Sims. With no Linden Dollars, but real Paypal/US dollars as tender, being Snowflower Diety really wont help much.