and how frequently . With that data , organizations can turn off power , heating , and cooling in empty spaces or implement a
smart heating and lighting system . In order to better manage their consumption , from HVAC to hot-water systems to ventilation , organizations will need to adopt
building energy management solutions that track office space utilization data and monitor and manage total consumption and energy usage .
Additionally , by tracking occupancy across the building , some software can also allow employees to check which rooms are available for an impromptu meeting ; book a workstation in advance of their arrival ; or see which colleagues are working from the office each day .
“ You want to make sure that it works seamlessly and that people have a good experience ,” says Doshi . “ You don ’ t want people to stop coming to the office .”
Doing more with less ( waste ) Equipping hybrid employees with new tools and tech to do their jobs in a hybrid world not only helps them maintain productivity wherever they are , but also gives businesses a chance to choose more sustainable devices .
The most important piece of equipment for any hybrid employee is a powerful and portable laptop , such as the
HP Elite Dragonfly ,
HP Elite c1030 Chromebook , or
HP ZBook Studio mobile workstation , all of which include components made from recycled
oceanbound plastic and long-lasting batteries for seamless transition between home and office . For even more energy efficiency , hybrid workers can use a solar-powered charging bank , providing them with limitless clean energy for their portable devices .
While many companies adapted quickly to remote work with more mobile devices and cloud solutions , one area that often posed a challenge for remote workers was printing — especially for those who didn ’ t have printers at home , or needed to print frequently .
“ The pandemic has reinforced the idea that work is not a separate place , and for many people that involves printing where they are ,” says Alberto Mendoza , Future Products Marketing Manager at HP . “ Just like we ’ ve seen with computing , printing needs to adapt to hybrid work in terms of mobility .”
HP
Roam for Business addresses that challenge , allowing mobile workers to safely and securely submit print jobs on the go , from any device and any location , and then print only when they are at an HP Roam – enabled printer . This gives hybrid employees flexibility and security , and also helps reduce wasted energy ,
“ WE ’ RE NOW BASING FACILITIES DECISIONS ON UTILIZATION , NOT HEAD COUNT .”
— LAURA DELAFUENTE , GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE , HP
paper , and supplies from unintentional prints . This added layer of efficiency can even reduce printing needs by 15 % to 30 %, according to HP studies .
“ People have gotten used to doing a lot online and remote in organizations , whether they are in healthcare , financial institutions , governments — where paper requirements tend to be the highest ,” says Doshi . “ In some industries , you can automate some workflows and reduce the number of pages and the amount of paper you require .”
Cutting the commute Transportation is the single largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States , accounting for 29 % of the country ’ s total emissions ,
according to the EPA . Working from home during pandemic lockdowns gave millions of employees the chance to skip their daily commute , saving time and reducing carbon emissions by
13 % in 2020 .
Research from the freelancing platform
Upwork shows that working from home during the pandemic led to 890 million fewer miles traveled in private vehicles . Another
study found that US workers , by switching to a more flexible working arrangement , could save 960 million hours of commuting time per year by 2030 , while cutting carbon emissions by more than 100 million tons .
“ The secret or passive piece that comes with [ hybrid work ] is the transportation footprint that is lifted ,” Karbowski says , explaining that employers can count the emissions saved toward their sustainability goals .
The pandemic also
inspired more people to pick up a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation , such as a bike , train , or electric scooter . New innovations in ride-sharing platforms ,
on-demand shuttle platforms , and EVs also have the potential to take a big chunk out of America ’ s single biggest source of carbon emissions .
With the workplace changing so rapidly , Karbowski says there is a collective responsibility to maintain a strong focus on sustainability as we not only adapt , but innovate , in the face of change .
“ The opportunity to evolve work in a more ethical and sustainable way is there for the taking ,” he says . “ It ’ s up to all of us , as citizens of the planet , to do it in such a way that helps not only the company and the employees , but the world around us .”
HP / INNOVATION / FALL 2021 61