Survey:  Going Green

A survey by Kforce Finance & Accounting revealed that 65 percent of responding companies are currently implementing green strategies in their corporate environment.  Of those, 60 percent were motivated by reducing their environmental impact and 45 percent were driven by cost reductions.  Another 35 percent indicated that “going green” was good public relations for the company.

The online survey, conducted in November, was designed to determine what companies are currently doing to go green and the benefits realized from doing so.

Of the respondents whose companies currently have green initiatives underway, 65 percent said they are currently reducing or eliminating the use of paper and 60 percent indicated that recycling and reuse programs are in place.  Other initiatives include conservation (45 percent), energy efficient lighting and heating (40 percent), the availability of telecommuting (25 percent) and energy efficient computers (15 percent).

For accounting firms, the reduction or total elimination of paper and transition to electronic documentation was the most popular means by which they were moving toward a greener workplace.

The majority (64.3 percent) of respondents indicated that they are also incorporating environmental elements into their products and services.  When asked whether their company has been able to calculate the benefits of going green, 50 percent indicated that they have seen tangible results, with one respondent indicating a 10 percent decrease in overall energy use.

For those without green strategies, just 14 percent said that they were considering adding them.  Forty-three percent were unsure and 43 percent said they were not planning to implement any green strategies in the near future.

Also in this month's issue:

Going Green Becomes Part of Corporate Culture

Proposed Legislation Would Exempt Small Companies from Auditor Attestation Requirement