{"id":45588,"date":"2022-09-26T10:07:39","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T14:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/?post_type=emagazine&#038;p=45588"},"modified":"2022-10-18T12:43:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T16:43:45","slug":"green-tech-improving-business","status":"publish","type":"emagazine","link":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/green-tech-improving-business\/45588\/","title":{"rendered":"Six ways green tech can benefit your business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Two-thirds of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/articles\/two-thirds-of-north-americans-prefer-eco-friendly-brands-study-finds-51578661728\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">customers place importance on a brand\u2019s sustainable or eco-friendly image<\/a>. Buoyed by this growing consumer awareness, business investment in becoming more sustainable is at record highs. Staff are concerned too \u2013 97 percent of <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/global\/en\/pages\/operations\/articles\/deloitte-cxo-sustainability-report.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">executives say their company has been negatively affected by climate change<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>IT and enterprise leaders must get involved in this new age of corporate social responsibility (CSR.) But these new environmentally conscious ways of doing business can benefit your company in other ways. Here are six ways green tech is improving business while reducing its environmental footprint.<\/p>\n<h2>1.\u00a0\u00a0 Saving on energy bills<\/h2>\n<p>Oxford Economics says data-driven tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iema.net\/articles\/smart-meters-to-save-smes-billions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">smart meters, smart plugs and self-regulating energy systems can cut energy costs by up to 5 percent<\/a>. It may not sound like much, but will add up to billions by 2030, with the biggest savings likely in small-to-medium businesses.<\/p>\n<p>These smart solutions are an easy way for businesses to predict better, optimize and conserve energy, meaning cost savings while reducing climate impacts of <a href=\"https:\/\/ourworldindata.org\/electricity-mix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">energy production, which across the world, is still mostly done by burning fossil fuels<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-promo-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"o-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"o-col-12@sm\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"c-card c-card--link c-card--hor@xs c-card--small@xs\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-card__figure c-card__figure--small@xs c-card__figure--medium@sm\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/smart-grid-electricity-business\/43774\/\" class=\"c-card__figure-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/media.kasperskydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/92\/2022\/02\/28053218\/289_smart_grids_business_benefits-500x500.jpg\" class=\"attachment-card-default size-card-default wp-post-image\" alt=\"smart grids business benefits\" data-src=\"https:\/\/media.kasperskydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/92\/2022\/02\/28053218\/289_smart_grids_business_benefits-500x500.jpg\" data-srcset=\"\" srcset=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-card__body  \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"c-card__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"c-card__headline\">Related article<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"c-card__title \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/smart-grid-electricity-business\/43774\/\" class=\"c-card__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why smart energy grids are a powerful opportunity for business<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"o-icon o-svg-icon o-svg-right\"><use xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/kaspersky-emagazine\/assets\/sprite\/icons.svg#icon-arrow-long\"><\/use><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-card__desc \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With the flexibility and intelligent control they bring, smart electricity grids can mean cost savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions for business.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"c-card__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-card__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"c-list-labels js-has-reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"c-list-labels__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/category\/tech-for-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Tech for business\u00a0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><span class=\"js-reading-time\"><\/span> min read<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"u-hidden js-reading-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccess to electricity is an important driver of well-being in emerging economies, enabling healthcare, education and economic prosperity. In 2021, numbers without electricity worldwide hit an all-time low of 768 million people, or just 3 percent of the world's population.\r\n\r\nAs our use of electricity expands, so too do the challenges of making it sustainable, affordable and reliable. Thankfully, alongside improved technology for renewable energy, smart electrical grids are here to help. How can business benefit from a smarter energy supply?\r\nWhat is a smart electricity grid?\r\nA smart grid is one where an IT network connects and controls all components, from energy supply to transport to the consumer. Smart grids makes it possible to reduce costs and energy consumption through intelligent control, reducing and balancing local energy fluctuations.\r\n\r\nA related idea is the microgrid: Smaller, standalone electricity systems designed to be self-sufficient. Take, for example, Scottish island Eigg's community-owned microgrid, using 90 to 95 percent renewable energy, or the US military island Miramar, powered by solar energy and landfill gas.\r\n\r\n\r\nHow business can benefit from smart grids and microgrids\r\nSmart grids don't just have advantages for energy suppliers or large companies with powerful electrical plants and system components. Communities or smaller companies can benefit from smart microgrids, saving on energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.\r\n\r\nTo create a smart grid, certain standards must be defined for it to work properly, but companies can easily implement microgrids. An intelligent microgrid adapted to the energy needs of a company can reduce energy demand and so the environmental footprint.\r\n\r\n\r\nExamples of smart businesses using smart energy\r\nGerman energy company Sonnen Group has a successful smart grid business model using a virtual energy storage cloud. It sells affordable home energy storage systems which work together as a virtual power plant, so the company and customer both control power for the electrical grid.\r\n\r\nAnother German company, aWATTar, provides flexible electricity tariffs to shift demand to sunny or windy periods, relieving the grid and promoting renewable energy expansion.\r\nSecurity risks for smart grids\r\n\r\n\r\nCritical infrastructure such as energy is an attractive target for cybercriminals. In 2021 a ransomware attack shut down a major US fuel pipeline and in that same year, an IBM report found energy has risen up the ranks to become the third most attacked sector.\r\nFuture trends and opportunities in smart energy\r\nThe energy sector has changed much in recent years, thanks to economic, political and environmental factors. The European energy crisis which has driven high energy prices is projected to last into 2023.\r\n\r\nSmart energy must be designed flexibly so energy systems can adapt quickly to future trends. Companies should consider the likely need to adapt to future energy market changes when designing their smart solutions.\r\n\r\nIf they want to see more businesses adopt smart grids, governments and authorities could define standards, clarify the legal framework and offer incentives through funding programs.\r\n\r\nClimate change has brought many challenges for individuals, businesses and countries. It also means opportunities for greater efficiency and adopting technologies that can mean we live healthier, safer and more productive lives. Smart grids are a powerful technology that properly secured, should be central to future energy strategy for businesses and nations.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n<h2>2.\u00a0\u00a0 Gaining more organizational insight<\/h2>\n<p>These smart devices don\u2019t just help save energy and resources. They give businesses improved insight into process efficiencies. There\u2019s been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/industrial-iot\/28210\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">huge uptake of \u2018internet of things\u2019 (IoT) devices in industry and manufacturing<\/a>, largely driven by their ability to predict maintenance needs, maximize productivity and reduce factory downtime. Over <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.idc.com\/2021\/01\/06\/future-of-industry-ecosystems-shared-data-and-insights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">55 billion devices will be connected and talking to one another by 2025<\/a>, according to market researcher IDC.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The savings these devices make through more efficient resource use and maximizing productivity (more output for less input) mean environmental and money-saving benefits.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>One example is <a href=\"https:\/\/smartbuildingsmagazine.com\/features\/the-house-thats-built-smart-from-the-start\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">modular house-building factories<\/a> \u2013robots are better than humans at arranging patterns to get the most cuts from a piece of wood.<\/p>\n<h2>3.\u00a0\u00a0 Improving employees\u2019 working lives<\/h2>\n<p>According to international consulting firm McKinsey, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/featured-insights\/future-of-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">remote, digital, and hybrid technologies will define the future of work<\/a>. Many employers are using online tools to book on-demand flexible office space, vehicles and virtual desktops, cutting resource consumption and travel-related greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/flexible-work-remote-control\/36898\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Employees relish more opportunity to work flexibly<\/a>, widespread since the pandemic \u2013 whether working from home or across hours that better suit family life.<\/p>\n<p>Commuting is no small contributor to climate change. In the US, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outdoors.org\/resources\/amc-outdoors\/conservation-and-climate\/how-your-commute-affects-air-pollution-and-climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">75 percent use driving as their main means of getting to work<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>With transportation contributing 28 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, working from home could be significant in keeping climate change at bay.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>4.\u00a0\u00a0 Saving on carbon costs<\/h2>\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/clima\/eu-action\/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets\/international-carbon-market_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">many countries operating internal carbon markets<\/a>, reducing carbon emissions can, on its own, reduce operating expenses. These schemes require companies to buy carbon credits for emissions they produce, while those that create carbon sinks, like forestry, can make money by selling credits.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/smart-grid-electricity-business\/43774\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Renewable energy microgrids are one way to<\/a> cut carbon emissions. Other companies are replacing fossil fuel-powered vehicle fleets with electric and hybrid vehicles. These can also have health benefits for staff through reduced air pollution, vibration and noise.<\/p>\n<h2>5.\u00a0\u00a0 Reducing eWaste<\/h2>\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2021\/10\/2021-years-e-waste-outweigh-great-wall-of-china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">growing mountains of electronic waste<\/a> are not easy or cheap to recycle, but practice is improving.<\/p>\n<p>Green tech can also help here, like using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/transition-hybrid-cloud\/31649\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">cloud-based file storage and backups<\/a>, where multiple businesses share the same IT infrastructure. (This, in turn, makes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/cloud-computing-jargon\/37430\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">strong, automated cloud security indispensable<\/a>.) Virtual desktops also mean you needn\u2019t constantly equip and re-equip staff with dedicated laptops and PCs, meaning less waste to landfill.<\/p>\n<p>Choose your data center wisely for minimum environmental impact \u2013 they can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/data-center-heat-recycling\/40712\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">use much electricity and water, and create a lot of heat<\/a>. Doing your research will reveal the most low-impact options, like using data centers in countries where most electricity is generated renewably.<\/p>\n<h2>6.\u00a0\u00a0 Increasing productivity<\/h2>\n<p>One UCLA study found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2012\/09\/120910112036.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">employees at companies that voluntarily adopt high environmental standards were 16 percent more productive<\/a> than peers at less eco-friendly organizations. Reasons might include distance learning, telecommuting and real-time collaboration tech.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/customer-service-ai-cx\/40643\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Artificially-intelligent software personalities and automated helpers<\/a> may also help employees work without needing to travel while taking over repetitive tasks that reduce focus.<\/p>\n<p>Green tech for business will mean many operational benefits alongside all-important protection for our resources, climate and atmosphere. Companies should aim to stay ahead of customers\u2019 expectations and move more quickly than regulation requires. The coming years will only bring more environmental scrutiny and awareness, so it will pay to invest in greener tech today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Customer and employee environmental awareness is inspiring businesses to adopt more green tech \u2013 and that will benefit the bottom line too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2662,"featured_media":45589,"template":"","coauthors":[4151],"class_list":{"0":"post-45588","1":"emagazine","2":"type-emagazine","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"emagazine-category-emerging-tech","7":"emagazine-category-remote-working","8":"emagazine-category-tech-for-good","9":"emagazine-tag-climate-change","10":"emagazine-tag-environment","11":"emagazine-tag-sustainability"},"hreflang":[{"hreflang":"x-default","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/secure-futures-magazine\/smart-grid-electricity-business\/43774\/"}],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/emagazine\/45588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/emagazine"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/emagazine"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=45588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}