With today's wired world, it's unacceptable to think that people must physically be in one room together to get a project done. The reality is that many people working together can do so by using collaboration tools such as Google Docs http://www.google.com/docs, online meeting tools like WebEx http://www.webex.com or GoToMeeting http://www.gotomeeting.com, or Skype http://www.skype.com.

As someone who knows this topic through my own schedule, I encourage you to build in some kind of telecommute, work from home, or remote access ability for you and your staff and teammates. When we force people to commute in to a fixed office, we incur unnecessary overall energy and gas costs, public transporation costs, and clothing, food, and childcare costs. When we allow our workers to work in the privacy of their most comfortable environment, and we give them enough time and space to do their best work, they can find ways to participate that maximize their ability. They can work wherever, whenever they want. as long as they participate on time and on deadline. I think you'll find that when you give your staff choices on when to work, you'll find more commitment, more productivity, more enthusiasm, and more targeted deliverables.

In my personal case, I use the following tools to facilitate communication: Skype, phone calls, web demonstrations via YouTube or live web meeting software, and e-mail to keep in touch. I complete most of my "thinking" work during my regular best working hours (late at night and early in the morning), while I reserve more of my rote tasks like filing, research, organizing, follow-up phone calls, and e-mail during other parts of the day.

Let's consider the impact of working from home on mothers and other caregivers; consider offering your workers some additional flex time to take care of their families, and you'll be repaid by having a committed, focused staff person available at a time that best works for them. If your project workflow happens to require simultaneous interaction, consider staggering out the process so different "checkpoints" can happen asynchronously.

You can work a flex-time or work from home policy into your existing situation. Gather research and ask your staff what works for them, and consider rolling out your revised policy to a few select people (start with one division or project) or on an overall companywide status if you want to save on utility costs (such as shutting down the building and janitorial on Fridays).

It can be done.

It's up to us as green business women to make the difference: advocate for change and rally for the opportunity to be more green by offering remote access options.