Why a Nonprofit Should Go Green in a Virtual World

  

  

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Tight budgets are generally a standard business practice for a nonprofit, so looking for ways to streamline operations to cut costs is nothing new in this sector. A new trend that could be causing pressure for the nonprofit is the focus on being “Green”. While it is considered to be good for the environment, not all Green processes are light on the pocketbook.

So, why should the nonprofit worry about whether or not they follow this latest trend? For one, many of the same people responsible for supporting the nonprofit with donations and volunteer hours are also socially conscious and want the nonprofit to be carbon friendly. The best way to achieve this goal is through Web conferencing.

Environmental Cost

Consider the environmental cost of air travel. One 2,500 mile flight for one person emits 760 pounds of CO2, which is the equivalent of 5 percent of a U.S. home’s electricity use for one year. When Web conferencing provides the face-to-face collaboration time you need without the air travel, your organization does not contribute to energy waste and saves the cost of the plane ticket, the hotel stay, the rental car, etc.

Web conferencing provides a platform for virtual meetings where live interaction is possible. Participants all sit at their own computer and are connected to other conference participants by way of their Internet connection. When live attendance is not possible due to scheduling conflicts or time differences, the conference can also be recorded in its entirety so absent attendees can later listen to the presentation and interaction, view slide shows or demonstrations and more.

Ease of Participation

One of the key attributes of Web conferencing that makes it so easy to use is not all participants are required to have specific software on their system in order to participate in the event. While the software can be downloaded, it can also run on a virtual server that allows the participant to simply click on or enter a URL to join the conference.

Robust tools allow for more than just voices and images on a computer screen. Online collaboration and conferencing is maximized through voice, chat, instant messaging, desktop sharing, virtual sticky notes, whiteboards, editing capabilities and so much more. Such robust tools are now more readily available to nonprofits as their cost no longer negates the benefit they can deliver.

With Web conferencing technology tools – now available at a fraction of the cost of first generation systems – the nonprofit can take a more environmentally friendly approach to doing business, while keeping their sights set on the main goals of the organization.