Rebound effects of videoconference in different countries

Rebound effects of videoconference

in different countries

Kazue Takahashi

Masayuki Tsuda*1_{, Jiro Nakamura}*1_{, Yasunari Matsuno}*2

and Yoshihiro Adachi*2

*1 _{NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories, NTT Corporation} *2 _{Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo}

Outline

Background and aim of this study

Results and discussion

Summary and next step

Effects of ICT services

Data collection

Life cycle Inventory assessment

Definition of rebound effects of ICT services

Aim of this study

NTT Energy&

Effects of ICT Services

Positive effects Negative effects

Dematerialization

Substitution of transportation Increased efficiency

Reduce environmental burdens Increase environmental burdens

Energy consumption Natural resources E-waste

Rebound effects Extra time use Extra cost use

Aim of this study



Compare the videoconference in different countries



Quantify changes in user activity resulting from

videoconference use in

USA, France and Japan



Evaluate environmental impacts (CO

emissions) of

videoconferences

including the rebound effects



Verify the feasibility of our evaluation method for

ICT services based on questionnaire results

Definition of effects of videoconferences

Extra time use

Video-conference (VC) Face-to-face meting (FM) Induced Activities Direct effects Transportation Rebound effects

Basic Data collection



Commercial Internet questionnaire system



Questionnaires translated into corresponding native

language

Direct effects (Meeting time & Participants)

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Meeting time reduced by using videoconference

Average reduction: about 0.7 hr

More participants by using videoconference Average increase: about 3 people 20 25 13 16 21 12 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

USA Japan France

T ot al n u m b er of p er ti ci p an ts (p eop le /m ee ti n g) VC FM 1.6 1.9 1.7 2.0 2.6 2.7 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

USA Japan France

M ee ti n g ti m e (h r) VC FM VC: Videoconference FM: Face-to-face Meeting

Direct effects ( Paper & Beverage consumption)

NTT Energy&

Paper consumption reduced by using videoconference Average reduction: about 4 sheets Beverage consumption reduced by using videoconference Average reduction: about 0.3 cups 5.9 8.6 7.1 8.7 11.6 14.0 0 5 10 15

USA Japan France

p ap er m at er ial s (A 4 sh ee t/ p er son ) VC FM 1.4 0.9 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.7 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

USA Japan France

B eve rage ( cu p /p er son ) VC FM

Indirect effects (Induced activities)

Induced activities have relatively high economic impact 4,500 – 15,000yen / person NTT Energy& Environment 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000

USA Japan France M

g a zi n e, B o o k ( p ie ce /p er so n ) C o st ( y en /p er so n ) Meals (yen) Beverages (yen) Souvenirs (yen) Magazines, Books (copy)

Rebound effects (Extra time use)

NTT Energy&

Time saved by using videoconferencing,

average about (8 hr), was largely used for other work.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

USA Japan France

E x tr a t im e u se ( %) TV Car use Other work Other VC

Life cycle inventory analysis

Exchanging visual and audio information and

hold a business meeting

Function unit

Conditions

NTT Energy& Environment



Videoconference models are based on

Internet questionnaire results



Where data for evaluating USA or French

case studies were not obtained, Japanese data

were substituted



Background data (CO

emission) is

Evaluation model

One way time (hr/person) USA 20 0 1.6 0 16 6 2.0 2.7 Japan 25 0 1.9 0 21 10 2.6 3.5 France 13 0 1.1 0 12 5 2.8 2.2 NTT Energy& Blue data : VC Red data : FM

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000

USA (VC) USA (FM) Japan(VC) Japan (FM) France (VC) France (FM)

CO 2 em is si on ( k g -CO 2 /m ee ti n g) Rebound Indirect Direct

CO

emissions of videoconferences

CO₂ emissions are reduced by using videoconferences

whenever rebound effects are considered

Highest reduction effect in USA

Differences of transportation

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Transportation method reflects the situation in each country.

This is the main reason for the differences in environmental impact.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

USA Japan France

T ran sp or at ion m et h od Car Bus Airplane Train

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

USA (VC) Japan(VC) France (VC) CO 2 e m is ss ion ( k g-C O2 /m ee ti n g) Rebound Indirect Direct

Influence of rebound effects

NTT Energy& Environment

29%

17%

31%

Summary

The changes in user activity resulting from the use of

videoconferences in the USA, France and Japan were quantified. The results reflect factors including the cultural background,

and social system in each country.

Highest reduction effect in USA because transportation is mainly by car and airplane.

The environmental impact of videoconferences including the rebound effects were evaluated and the introduction of

videoconferences reduced this impact.

Rebound effects should not be disregarded.

Next steps

NTT Energy& Environment

 Environmental inventory data should be checked more precisely for comparison

 More data should be gathered for USA/France

 Japanese foreground data should be updated

 Definition of rebound effects should be discussed using more case studies

 Economic rebound effects (saved cost use) should be considered

Thank you!

NTT Energy& Environment