Can e-learning help us save the planet?

We like to think we're good global citizens here at Brightwave towers - we recycle, we donate, we lament the inferior flammability of a barbeque briquette made of yesterday's Guardian. But what else can we do?

We've just signed up to the 10:10 initiative - "an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010". The 10:10 initiative focuses on 4 key areas:

• Road transport
• Air travel
• Electricity
• On site fuel use

So we've been thinking about reducing our own footprint, but also asking how can e-learning help our clients reduce their footprint?

E-learning allows the learner to stay at their desk to do the learning, avoiding the need for them to hit the road or the airport to reach classroom training. And if your learners can do the e-learning from home, they don't even need to expend any energy changing out of their pyjamas and slippers!

In terms of electricity use, if a learner does e-learning on their usual work computer, there are fewer extra electricity uses from classroom projectors, printing workbooks, conference rooms, hotels to stay in, etc.

And what about on site fuel use? We can't promise to help you cut back on your heating, but the smug cosy glow of knowing that you've already cut back on road transport, air travel and electricity might mean you can turn that thermostat down this winter!

Find out more about the 10:10 initiative at 1010uk.org.