Session: Social LCA

Social Effects of a Videoconference
Kazue Ichino Takahashi,^*   NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories
Masayuki Tsuda,   NTT Energy and Environement Systems Laboratories
Minako Hara,   NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories
Yasue Nemoto,   NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories
Jiro Nakamura,   NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories
Shiro Nishi,   NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories

The environmental impact of videoconferences has been evaluated by LCA and their ecological advantage over the corresponding face-to-face meetings is apparent. However, people do not select a videoconference simply because of its environmental benefits, but rather because it is more cost efficient and/or convenient. Therefore a social impact assessment is needed to evaluate the real impact. We have developed a social impact assessment index, called the Gross Social Feel-good (GSF) index. This index can evaluate quantitatively the contributions of certain factors to the realization of a sustainable society. GSF comprises six component indexes, namely environment, economy, safety, health, comfort and happiness. It is designed to apply to information and communications technology (ICT) services and the results are shown as a monetary value. We applied the GSF index to a videoconference. The component indexes were evaluated from statistical data and questionnaire results. The environmental index was evaluated in terms of the environmental impact of a videoconference by using LIME (a life-cycle impact assessment method based on endpoint modeling), which is an original Japanese life cycle impact indicator. The safety index was evaluated by estimating the number of traffic accidents that could be avoided by people not having to travel. As regards the comfort index, the reduced transportation and meeting times were evaluated and converted to a monetary value. The health index was not evaluated because it does not relate to videoconferences. The economy index was evaluated as the difference between the cost of a videoconference and a business trip. The evaluation of the happiness index, which indicates a personfs feelings or degree of satisfaction, is now under consideration. As tentative results, the economy index was about U$1,120, the comfort index was about U$90 and the environment index was U$24 and the safety index was less than U$1. These results correspond to the reasons for people using videoconferences. It is important to consider social impact in addition to environmental issues when designing ICT services.

---