Turns out the green light on the camera isn’t so green after all. 

At Huddle, we are always on the lookout for ways to help our clients reduce their energy footprint. We were excited to read new research suggesting simply turning off your camera can dramatically reduce the impact of remote working on the environment.  

New Research says…

Conducted by MIT, Yale and Purdue universities, the study found that an hour-long video call can put a surprising strain on the environment. In fact, a one-hour call uses 3 gallons of water and causes more than 2 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.  That is about the same quantity of carbon a small car would emit on a 50-hour journey!  

It all adds up!

While that still might not sound like a huge amount, with the enormous increase in the number of people working remotely the numbers start to add up. Many organizations have been surprised by the impact the explosion in video calls has on their overall environmental footprint and sustainability goals.  

The Solution…

Never fear, because there is a common-sense solution. Just turning off your camera can reduce your energy usage by up to 96%. As virtual engagement experts, we understand the challenges of keeping your audience focused when the camera is off. If keeping the cameras on is important to you, try cutting down from high-definition video to standard also reduced emissions, by as much as 86% in some cases.  

Now, that isn’t to say you can never see your workers and attendees faces again! But being thoughtful about when video is actually required, and how high the resolution needs to be, is a simple and effective way of making your business more sustainable and energy-efficient.  

For more ideas on sustainability and to measure and track the carbon footprint of your meetings and events, get in touch with the Huddle Team…