Effects of Internet-based multiple-site conferences on greenhouse gas emissions
Effects of Internet-based multiple-site conferences on greenhouse gas emissions
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DOI：
10.1016/j.tele.2011.11.006
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发表时间：
2012-11-01
影响因子：
8.5
通讯作者：
Birtel, Martin
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Coroama, Vlad C.;Hilty, Lorenz M.;Birtel, Martin
人们日益一致认为，信通技术可以通过提高现有工艺的效率和通过使替代效应能够带来能源效率更高的生产和消费模式，为减少人为温室气体排放作出贡献。然而，虽然已经提出了许多基于理论减排潜力的研究，但在实践中，迄今为止只能列举几个这样的减排例子。本文介绍了一个特定领域的现场实验结果，其中ICT可以取代碳密集型技术：使用先进的视频会议技术，以减少洲际会议旅行，从而减少与旅行相关的温室气体排放。我们在两大洲同时组织了一次大型资源管理会议，并评估了与会者的旅行以及连接两个地点所使用的额外ICT设备所造成的排放。根据调查结果，我们进一步评估了在两个地点中的任何一个举行会议的替代方案的排放量，以及与会者对两个地点会议形式的满意度。结果显示，与单一地点的替代方案相比，与旅行相关的温室气体排放量减少了37%和50%，尽管参加人数比任何一个替代方案都多。与此同时，与会者的经验显然是积极的，表明多地点形式可以作为举行国际会议的传统单一地点形式的可接受的替代办法。(C)2011爱思唯尔有限公司版权所有。
There is a growing consensus that ICT can contribute to the reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, both by increasing the efficiency of existing processes and by enabling substitution effects to usher in more energy efficient patterns of production and consumption. While, however, many studies based on theoretical reduction potentials have been presented, in practice it has only been possible to cite a few examples of such reductions thus far.This article presents the results of a field experiment for one particular domain in which ICT can be substituted for more carbon-intensive technologies: using advanced videoconferencing technology to reduce intercontinental conference travel and thus travel-related GHG emissions. We organized a large resource management conference simultaneously on two continents and assessed the emissions caused by the attendees' travel and by the additional ICT equipment utilized to connect the two venues. We further assessed, based on a survey, the emissions in the alternative scenarios of holding the conference at either one of the places, and the satisfaction of the participants with the two-site conference format.The results show that reductions of 37% and 50% in travel-related GHG emissions were attained as compared to the single-site alternatives, although more people took part than in any of these alternatives. At the same time, the attendees' experience was clearly positive, showing that the multiple-site format can serve as an acceptable alternative to the traditional one-site format of holding an international conference. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.