Document management and imaging company, Version One, it to launch its electronic document management (EDM) green meter at Green IT Expo 2009 (stand 4, Barbican Exhibition Centre, London, 10-11 November 2009). This green meter calculates carbon and paper savings as a result of using Version One’s EDM software.

Version One’s document management solutions enable the electronic creation, delivery, circulation, storage and management of documents, eliminating the need to print-out, photocopy, post and manually file paper documents (invoices, statements, personnel records etc.). The environmental benefits of Version One’s solutions are considerable including reductions in both paper waste and carbon emissions.

The launch of Version One’s green meter, which forms part of the company’s recently announced Clean and Green environmental initiative, enables the positive environmental benefits of using Version One’s software to be more accurately tracked. In particular, the green meter calculates and reports on CO2 and paper savings relating to the following actions:

• Distribution of a document by electronic mail.
• Distribution of a document by automated fax.
• Automated storage of an outgoing document.
• Electronic document authorisation.

The green meter calculations are based on a range of formulae, including those obtained from The Carbon Trust (using DEFRA tables). The savings in both CO2 and paper are presented to users numerically as well as in an easy to understand tree graphic.When one percent of a tree is saved in paper or when one per cent of a tree’s sequestered CO2 has been saved, one leaf is added. Once 100 leaves have been added, the tree is moved across to the ‘total trees’ data field, a new bare tree appears and the process begins again.

Julian Buck, General Manager of Version One, says, “Organisations are under increasing pressure to calculate and help to reduce their environmental impact, especially their carbon emissions. Although we always promote the positive environmental impact of using our electronic document management solutions, we recognised the need for a tool to calculate and report on the paper and carbon savings as a result of using these solutions.”

Buck adds, “With the addition of this green meter, users are given a better understanding of the environmental consequences of their actions. With a clear insight into the paper and carbon savings as a result of the electronic delivery, storage and authorisation of documents, we hope that users will also be encouraged to act in an even more environmentally responsible manner as they go about their day-to-day business activities.”

For further information about Version One’s green meter, visit Version One on stand 4 at Green IT Expo 2009, call +44(0)1625 856505, email marketing@versionone.co.uk or visit www.versionone.co.uk. For further information about Version One’s Clean and Green project, visit www.ecogecko.org