Cisco's consulting wing recently completed a survey of nearly 2000 employees regarding the company's flexible work program.  The results are in and here's what they say:

• The company has saved $277 million in costs by allowing employees to telework.

• The survey found that 40 percent of employees are not located in the same city as their direct manager, while 83 percent of teleworkers said that their ability to collaborate and communicate with colleagues and supervisors was as good if not better than if they were working in a central office.

• 69 percent said their productivity was higher, and 75 percent said their work was more timely when working remotely; overall, 67 percent said telecommuting improved the quality of their work.

• Teleworking decreased Cisco's company-wide emissions by more than 47,000 tons
  through avoided travel, and employees saved an accumulated $10 million per year in fuel costs.

In response to this survey I would like to make the following observation:  Duh! 

Allowing employees to telecommute is not only good for the environment it is obviously good for employee morale and job satisfaction.  So why do most companies continue to resist this rather drastic but effective change to their human resources strategy?  Trust. 

Those of you who are old enough to remember Theory X and Theory Y in your business class understand what I am talking about. 

Theory X and Theory Y are theories of human motivation developed in the 1960's by Douglas McGregor at the MIT Sloan School of Management that have been used in human resource management, organizational behavior, and other areas of business to describe two very different attitudes toward motivating employees. McGregor believed that companies followed either one or the other approach.

Theory X states that management assumes employees are inherently lazy and will avoid work if they
can. They inherently dislike work and as a result they need to be closely supervised and controlled.  Companies that subscribe to this theory have a rigid hierarchical structure.

Theory Y on the other hand assumes employees may be ambitious and self-motivated and exercise self-control. Managers believe that employees enjoy their mental and physical work duties and to them work is as natural as play. They possess the ability for creative problem solving, but their talents are underused in most organizations. Theory Y managers believe that employees will learn to seek out and accept responsibility and to exercise self-
control and self-direction in accomplishing objectives to which they are committed.

Although we often hear about innovative ways that companies today are trying to connect with and motivate their employees I believe too many managers are still following Theory X. Whereas in the past layoffs were the last option for cutting expenses in a downturn, today it is up near the top.  Until companies get back to valuing employees as an investment rather than an expense and most importantly until managers begin to trust their employees telecommuting and the benefits it provides will continue to be the exception rather than the rule.    

If you haven't heard yet Congress just approved the "Cash for Clunkers" bill, also known as the Car Allowance Rebate System which is awaiting final approval from President Obama.  Created as a way to increase the number of fuel efficient vehicles on the road as well as to provide a subsidy to ailing American car companies, the "Cash for Clunkers" program will pay consumers up to $4500 to trade in their old less fuel efficient vehicle for a new fuel efficient vehicle.  Total funding for the program?  $1 Billion.  Requirements for assistance through this plan:

• Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date.

• Only purchase or lease of new vehicles apply.

• Trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG. (requirements are different for large pick-ups and cargo vans)

• Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in.

• You don't need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchase.

Here are the six steps recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for obtaining a financial credit through the car allowance rebate system:

1. Visit CARS.gov for current information about the program.
2. Determine if you qualify, then shop for a new car.
3. Bring the title, registration and insurance papers showing continuous registration and insurance coverage for the past full year.
4. When you buy or lease a new vehicle, the dealer handles the submission of all required information to NHTSA.
5. NHTSA ensures that your purchase meets the requirements.
6. About 10 days later, NHTSA will issue a financial credit to the dealer—assuming all program requirements have been met.

photo by Michael Penn

I have said this before and I still believe it to be true, that until people start getting fed up with the politicized, monopolistic ways of electricy utility companies we won't see real change in the consumer market for renewable energy products.  I think we are now starting to see some movement in this area.  As can be expected utility companies haven't taken the opportunity during this recession to build good will with their customers by avoiding costly add-on charges, rate increases and other dubious practices.  This might just be the spark needed for people to realize they can get off the grid and take control of their energy spending. 

One such example is presented on the blog Fire Progress Energy.  Billed as "Your Voice Against a Powerful Monopoly", Fire Progress Energy has solicited feedback from many people in the Tampa Bay area about Progress Energy, the dominant electricity utility in that part of the state and elsewhere.  Progress Energy's activities are overseen by the Florida Public Service Commission.  Apparently they haven't been doing their job very well.  Some of the comments by Progress Energy customers:

Robert Ridings

They all are in the pocket of this and all other utilities . PSC stands for PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION not PRIVATE SERVICE TO THE UTILITIES . This is the only utility that the stochholders are 100% protected by our psc. Not a chance to lose a penny.

Lorine

I find it hard to believe that as bad as the economy is that they are asking for an increase in rates. There will be soon on fixed incomes that will have to choice between paying the electric bill or eating or getting their medication.

Dr. Brad

Progress Energy is a monopoly that should be government run, but instead is free to run rampant, impose price increases with little more than a token hearing by the PSC who is in bed with the utility companies. Now Progress Energy (who uses more costly natural gas to generate the majority of this countys power, instead of cheaper alternatives) wants to raise prices during a depression to cover costs of their construction of a nuclear plant, even though that plant will generate vast income for Progress Energy. We are essentially paying for them to make money!

John Dufek

As a landlord, I am very concerned with the egregious rate increase Progress Energy is proposing. All of my tenants are of modest means. They are unprepared for, and unable to budget for, this shocking proposed rate increase.

Traci

I just losted my mother due to cancer and been struggling since January. She past on Sept 13 and less than 1 month I paid over 500.00 at the beginning of the month and not behind but owed a 300.00 bill in 2 weeks afterwards and they would not let me make payment arrangements. That is over 800.00 in less than 1 month and a single parent.

Judi Zachar

My husband died an accidental death in February of 2008. I am living alone, now, on social security disability. For progress energy to increase my light bill by 25%+, in this economy, is unbelievable.

Michelle

My bill went up by $100.00 for January. Our bill is almost $300.00 in January. That is ridiculous! My children and I have been cold all winter trying not to run the heat and our bill is still high. What happens if people decide not to use their air all summer long in the Florida heat. Maybe a few deaths this summer will get someone’s attention.

What about you?  Are you satisfied with your electricity utility company?  I would like to take an informal national poll about customer service and business practices of the electricity utility companies.  Send me your comments in detail and let me know how you feel about your utility company.

As awareness that our planet is falling apart has grown, surprisingly the selection of cool eco-friendly gifts has as well.  As a result there are lots of options for the environmentally-conscious Dad on your shopping list for Father's Day.  So without further ado here are 5 environmentally friendly gifts that I wouldn't mind getting for Father's Day(hint, hint):

Little Earth Beercap Belt

This recycled rubber belt is studded with beer caps collected from bars all around Pittsburgh, PA. It features an authentic seat belt buckle and a 4-snap adjustment to further refine your fit.   Perfect for that Pittsburgh Steelers fan in your life.  Recycling with a little flair if you will.

Voltaic Backpack Solar Charger

The Voltaic Backpack is solar charger built tough for use on a weekend hike bag solar backpackor computer bag. There are pockets and wire channels for multiple electronic devices and 1,850 cubic inches of storage space.  Additional features include:

    * 4 watts of solar power for fast charging.

    * The solar panels protect fragile items inside

    * Included battery pack which stores power until you need it

    * 11 adaptors for easy connection to handheld electronics

    * Fully padded laptop sleeve for up to a 17" laptop (16.5" x 11" x 3" or 42cm x 28cm x 7cm) 

You could be the envy of any electronically-obsessed hiker or wilderness enthusiast.

A-Team Trading Card Belt

Trading Card Belt: Trading cards laminated, stitched to heavy nylon and then harnessed for the nefarious purpose eco friendly beltof **holding up your pants.** 1 1/2" wide with snap closures.  You know what Mr. T would say:  "I pity the fool that ruins the environment."  Sorry, I had to say it. 

Dell Studio Hybrid

Comes with a bamboo sleeve option.  Has a sleek design along with substantial power efficiency.  80% smaller computer than a regular pc and uses 70% less power.  Who can argue with those environmentally-friendly credentials. 

COTO Briar Root Cuff Links

From the COTO website:

"All coto products are designed to promote a sartorial and sustainable lifestyle.   Each season we aimsustainable cuff links to integrate materials that will benefit local communities and the environments in which they thrive."

COTO's briar root cuff links are carved from the erica arborea tree and include natural leather rope, a sterling silver centerpiece, genuine horn end piece and a COTO engrave.  Now that's sustainability with style.

The government of China announced a new policy change on emissions at Friday's State Council meeting on climate change that will include putting in place carbon dioxide emissions targets for its economic and social development programs.  Indications are that China may include new national goals for carbon dioxide emissions in their next five year national development plan(2011-2015).

Some of the highlights of the announced policy:

China vowed to help the international community achieve "positive results" at the UN Copenhagen climate change talks in December.

The State Council promised to name and shame provincial governments that fail to meet their 2008 targets of energy conservation and emission control.

The government will subsidize 120 million electricity-saving lightbulbs nationwide.
 
This policy statement comes amid climate change discussions going on in Bonn ahead of December’s United Nations-sponsored talks in Copenhagen, which will try to determine a successor to the Kyoto Protocol.  Because the United States and China are responsible for 40 percent of global carbon emissions any global agreement on emissions standards must include China.  Although this is a positive step in that direction, according to Elizabeth Economy, Director for Asian studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, China is the world’s largest emitter of carbon, and "without a dramatic reshaping of its economy, its emissions will be twice those of the United States by 2030."

                                         Photo by serve.gov

Volunteering On The Rise

Volunteering is front and center in the American consciousness.  In the last year we have heard several calls by President Obama and his administration for Americans, particularly young people, to serve their communities.  The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act has created a wide range of service opportunities for Americans young and old in exchange for educational opportunities and grants. According to the volunteeringinamerica.gov report Volunteering in America: 2008 State and City Trends and Rankings:

• In 2007, 60.8 million Americans or 26.2 percent of the adult population gave 8.1 billion hours of
  volunteer service worth $158 billion. While the number of adults who volunteered dropped between 2005 and 2006,
  from 28.8 percent to 26.7 percent, the rate this year held relatively steady.
• There were one million more volunteers in 2007 than 2002, and volunteering is stronger now than
  two decades ago.
• Volunteer intensity is increasing. Today, over a third of volunteers (34%) serve intensively, volunteering 100 or more hours in a year. In fact, the number of “intensive volunteers” increased by over 373,000 — the first increase in this statistic since 2004. In 2007, the proportion of volunteers giving 100+ hours reached its highest level since 2002 when 35 percent of all volunteers gave 100+ hours.

Health Benefits

Volunteering obviously provides many benefits to the community as well as the volunteer such as problem solving, strengthening communities and a sense of pride and accomplishment. What is often overlooked is that volunteering is good for your health.   According to a report by nationalservice.gov entitled "The Health Benefits of Volunteering:A Review of Recent Research" the following describes the health benefits of volunteering:

• Volunteering leads to greater life satisfaction and lower rates of depression.
• Volunteering and physical well-being are part of a positive reinforcing cycle.
• Individuals who volunteer live longer.
• State volunteer rates is strongly connected with the physical health of the states' population.
• Evidence suggests the possibility that the best way to prevent poor health in the future, which could be a barrier to volunteering, is to volunteer.
• Volunteers must meet a "volunteering threshold" to receive significant health benefits. (at least 40 hours per year)
• Research has found that volunteering provides older adults, (those age 60 or older), with greater benefits than younger volunteers.

Human beings thrive off connecting with other human beings in a meaningful way.  It stands to reason that volunteering provides health benefits as a result of these positive social interactions.  Call it Karma or soulful, whatever it is there has never been a better time to get out there and get involved.