Dematerialisation

ICT-enabled reduction of energy intensity.

Less energy, less time and fewer emissions. Read how spending more time at the office can help the environment (Photo: Istockphoto)

Dematerialisation or virtualisation is a term used to describe the process by which a physical object becomes virtual. Video conferencing is an example of such virtualisation or dematerialisation. A virtual meeting uses far less energy than a physical meeting requiring transportation.

In the Nordic countries, the population is relatively small compared to the size of the countries. The need for transportation is great, as are the distances. Videoconferencing has been effectively used to reduce the need for travel in the Nordic countries.

Effective in scarcely populated areas

In Tromsø in the north of Norway, telemedicine including video conferencing is used to treat patients residing in Spitsbergen. Stroke patients in the mountain village of Voss have been diagnosed from the seaside city of Bergen.

In the scarcely populated Finnmark, local governments use video conferencing to hold weekly meetings without having to travel. The Norwegian Tax Administration (link in Norwegian) has implemented video conferencing in 100 locations, and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration has implemented video conferencing in 70 per cent of their 483 locations.

The Nordic region is very scarcely populated compared to continental Europe. To Nordic businesses and politicians video conferencing can be a way of cutting emissions and saving money (Map: NASA)

These public authorities see environmental as well as organizational and economic benefits from the use of video conferencing. A report financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Reform and Church Affairs concludes that video conferencing works best as a platform for meetings when the parties know one another well; when the meetings are routine; when information needs to be delivered simultaneously, such as in instances of internal reorganization; when the expertise is centralized but the need for expertise is decentralized; when the level of conflict is low. The study estimates that, were the use of video conferencing to replace 1 out of every 5 plane trips undertaken by state employees, the savings in terms of air fare alone would amount to 326 million Norwegian crowns per year.

Less travelling is good for business

TrygVesta, the Danish insurance company, uses video conferencing on a regular basis and have saved 111 million kroner after an initial investment of 10 million kroner in 11 years, thanks to use of video conferencing. They now operate with a bonus system that is the opposite of the normal: they give added bonuses to those leaders who travel the least. See how TrygVesta utilises video conferencing delivered by the Norwegian company Tandberg, a market leader in the video conference industry.

Swedish Telecom operator TeliaSonera has taken their own medicine and reduced their CO2-emissions with 70% between 2001 and 2007. This was achieved through a number of measures, amongst them a 30 per cent decrease in travelling. The in-house usage of teleconferencing increased at a rate of 15-20% per year and travel expenditures decreased with approximately 13 million euros on an annual basis.