Using work space-scheduling software to save energy
PeopleCube, a company that makes software for managing rooms and other resources in buildings, has added energy efficiency features that can gather information to optimize office building energy usage.
The company's Resource Scheduler software lets people arrange the use of conference rooms, shared desks for telecommuters, and equipment for tasks such as video conferencing.
Next month, it will announce Carbon Footprint Tracker, a program that links the company's resource management software to building climate control systems.
The software will do things like turn off the heat or air conditioning in a room when people are not scheduled to use it, and turn it back on before people use it.
These automations will enable people to cut down on their building's energy usage by up to 20 percent, according to PeopleCube CEO John Anderson. "We think of it as low-hanging fruit," he said.
Buildings do need to have relatively recent climate control systems--done in the last five to seven years--to be able to share information between applications, according to Anderson.
The company on Monday also announced additions to its resource-scheduling software that provide reports on energy savings. People can view how much energy is saved, or the carbon emissions avoided, by using resources like videoconferencing or by having employees telecommute.
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer for CNET's Green Tech blog. He started at CNET News in 2002, covering IT and Web development. Before that, he was executive editor at IT publication InfoWorld. E-mail Martin. 
Improve Efficiency & Collaboration. Saves energy money and resources.
Video conferencing allows you to see, converse, share information and collaborate without ever leaving your office.
Video conferencing is far more than a simple replacement for travel. Using video conferencing can help companies collaborate with colleagues, customers and suppliers; respond quickly to customer demand; solve support issues; react to market opportunities; deal immediately with crises, and respond to competitive threats.
HOW CAN VIDEO CONFERENCING HELP ME?
? Improve communications by reading reactions and emotions on the faces of those in the conference
? Build trust, understanding and respect through face-to-face meetings
? Reduce travel and related expenses ? stress, pollution
? Improve work-life balance by minimizing travel
? Lessen the negative environmental impacts of travel
? Utilize for training and in-service
? Discuss and demonstrate productivity and safety
Presented by: Jay Draiman