RegioPKI® to reduce CO2 emissions and traffic congestions in the cities and densely populated regions

Sustainable development, prevention of traffic congestion, energy savings, prevention of climate change, support sustainable communities with RegioPKI Proxi Offices

The Proxi / Satellite Office Solution provides cities and densely populated regions with efficient means for sustainable development reducing traffic congestion and CO 2 emissions to fight climate change. The solution enables significant direct operational savings and improves efficiency and data security for organisations. At the same time it also reinforces local economies and improves quality of life of people by allowing more flexible working time with reduced time for work-based travelling. The solution is based on modern mobile and internet ICT and telework technologies using strong authentication and digital signatures to ensure efficient and secure electronic transactions for computer-based work patterns.

The Challenge

Europe 's cities have to be energy-efficient cities in the future. There is no escaping the fact that, faced with challenges such as climate change and rising energy costs, urban areas across Europe will have to drastically reduce their energy consumption within the next decade and beyond.

It is now time for Europe 's local and regional governments to take up the challenges of climate change and energy efficiency. The ‘Covenant of Mayors' initiative will give the mayors and leaders of the cities the opportunity to commit themselves to reducing CO 2 emissions in their city by more than 20% by 2020. EUROCITIES has actively contributed to the preparation of the Covenant, and by the end of 2008 the member cities will adopt a Declaration on climate change whereby they will agree on a series of actions aimed at meeting the Covenant's objectives.

As ICT technologies, work culture and legislation are now mature  and the evolution of mentalities and values in today's society confirm it as well, it is time to re-launch the idea of proxi / satellite offices for smart, mobile and flexible telework patterns to support sustainable development and to combat climate change. 

The Solution

Actually, the most discussed solution for reducing traffic and congestion in the cities are different road tolls that motorists have to pay in order to give an incentive to use public transportation. London is one example of this approach; traffic in the city area has reduced significantly after taking into use of the toll collection system and use of public transport has grown at the same time.

In addition to these restrictive measures, a new positive approach, but not a new idea, needs  be taken into use. The principle is close to the mobile work or telework. Proxi / satellite offices situated outside of the city centres and / or close to home can be used, where people can meet and work. These offices can provide all necessary infrastructures and services needed for computer- based and office-type of work. Additional features, like videoconferencing systems can also be included within the work place to achieve near-to-real contacts with fellow workers.

This solution would positively contribute in many office-type work patterns reducing commuter traffic between homes and city offices since relevant parts of work tasks could be conducted near home and the need for day-to-day commuting could be reduced significantly to the minimum necessary meetings and other intra-organisational face to face events.

Actual ICT technologies combined together with appropriate trust and security solutions including electronic identities with strong authentication and digital signature systems and the Total Single Sign On (TSSO, fully integrated physical and logical accesses control with only one token), would make working possible outside of the actual working places for remarkable part of workforce at least for significant share of their weekly working time. If this concept with properly designed, secure paperless processes is taken into use within the whole organisation, remarkable economies in administrative processes can be achieved. According to the studies carried out in Germany , average savings are from 20 to 40% (from 0 to 90 % depending on the service or administrative process or application). For example, Hewlett Packard claims having had 20 % overall savings when the personnel uses telework method.

Some advantages:

• Reduction of unnecessary traffic and congestion in the cities - no need for road tolls
• Due to reduced traffic, reduction of CO 2 , CO, NOx, micro particle, hydro carbon and carcinogen emissions
• Improvement of quality of life due to reduced travelling time to work – more free time for other activities and hobbies, families and social relations
• As people have the possibility to stay close to their homes, they will consume more local services, hence supporting local businesses and economies and contributing to a socially sustainable local and regional development
• Savings in office rents and other overhead costs for organisations as reduced need for expensive office space in the high cost cities
• Increase operational efficiency and data security in public and private organisations
• Create new businesses
• Reinforce entrepreneurship of new groups of people
• Improve employment and equal opportunities for women and people with impairments
• Direct cost savings for people due to lower travel costs.

RegioPKI^® Proxi Office Platform