700-245 Environmental Sustainability Practice-Building(ESPB) Questions and Answers

Three key factors driving the growth ofSmart buildingsin the coming years are:

Customer demands (B):Customers are increasingly seeking energy-efficient, sustainable, and tech-enabled spaces that enhance comfort and reduce operating costs. Smart buildings, equipped with IoT and data analytics, provide a higher level of efficiency and adaptability, making them attractive to businesses and consumers.

Government-sponsored smart infrastructure projects (D):Many governments are investing insmart infrastructureprojects to promote sustainability and energy efficiency in urban development. These projects encourage the adoption of smart building technologies to meet sustainability goals, reduce energy consumption, and improve public infrastructure.

Increases in energy costs and consumption (F):Rising energy costs are a significant driver for adopting smart building technologies, which can optimize energy use and reduce utility bills. Advanced systems like smart sensors and automated energy management help minimize waste and ensure efficient use of resources, providing long-term cost savings.

Environmental Sustainability References:

International Energy Agency (IEA). (2021).Smart Buildings: Trends and Drivers for Growth.

World Economic Forum. (2021).Smart Building Technologies and the Future of Urban Development.

Cisco. (2022).Customer and Regulatory Drivers for Smart Building Adoption.

Theincreased mobility of employees in a hybrid work modelis a driving factor for the new security paradigm focused onzero trust. As more employees work remotely or in a hybrid setup, accessing company networks and resources from various locations and devices, traditional perimeter-based security models become insufficient.Zero trustis a security framework that requires continuous verification of users, devices, and applications, regardless of their location, to protect against unauthorized access and cyber threats.

Increased mobility, along with cloud adoption, has amplified the need for robust security measures that ensure trust is never assumed and that all interactions are authenticated and verified.

Environmental Sustainability References:

Cisco. (2021).Zero Trust and the Hybrid Workforce: Securing the Future of Work.

Forrester Research. (2020).Zero Trust: A New Approach to Cybersecurity in the Hybrid Work Era.

Gartner. (2021).Zero Trust and Its Role in Enterprise Mobility and Security.

Cisco plans to achievenet-zero emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2030, which covers its direct operations, including energy use in its buildings and facilities. Scope 1 refers to direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, such as fuel combustion, while Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling. To meet this goal, Cisco is focusing on energy efficiency improvements, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and reducing its overall carbon footprint in its global operations.

This target is part of Cisco’s broader commitment to sustainability and aligning with international climate agreements.

Environmental Sustainability References:

Cisco. (2021).Cisco’s Net Zero by 2030 Strategy for Scope 1 and 2 Emissions.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2021).Corporate Net Zero Commitments and Timelines.

World Economic Forum. (2021).Corporate Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality: Cisco’s 2030 Net Zero Goal.

ABusiness Leaderrelies onITfor recommendations on technology investments. Business leaders, who focus on driving the overall strategy and performance of the company, often turn to IT leaders for expert guidance on technology solutions that can enhance operations, improve efficiency, and support sustainability goals. IT leaders play a crucial role in identifying, evaluating, and recommending technologies that align with the business's needs and objectives, ensuring that the company stays competitive while meeting its technological and sustainability targets.

Environmental Sustainability References:

Gartner. (2021).The Role of IT in Business Strategy and Decision-Making.

Harvard Business Review. (2020).Business Leaders and the Importance of IT in Strategic Technology Investments.

Cisco. (2021).How IT Leaders Drive Business Sustainability and Innovation.

When discussing sustainability with a customer, the focus should be on thecircular economy strategy and goals. The circular economy emphasizes reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling products to minimize environmental impact. This approach aligns with long-term sustainability objectives and helps businesses achieve resource efficiency, reduce carbon footprints, and meet regulatory requirements.

Discussing circular economy strategies allows customers to explore sustainable practices that not only lower environmental impacts but can also reduce costs over time by promoting resource efficiency and longevity in product usage.

Environmental Sustainability References:

Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2021).Circular Economy: Opportunities for Sustainable Business Growth.

World Economic Forum. (2022).Adopting Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainability and Business Resilience.

Cisco. (2021).The Role of Circular Economy in Technology Sustainability Discussions.

The global economy has historically been based on the"Take-Make-Dispose"model, which is alinear economyapproach. In this model, raw materials are taken from the earth, used to make products, and then disposed of as waste after use. This system leads to a high rate of resource depletion and environmental degradation, contributing to significant waste and pollution problems. The shift toward acircular economyis aimed at moving away from this unsustainable linear model by focusing on reusing, recycling, and reducing waste to create a more sustainable system.

The circular economy encourages keeping materials in use for as long as possible, designing for durability, and minimizing waste.

Environmental Sustainability References:

Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2021).Circular Economy: Reimagining the "Take-Make-Dispose" Model.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2020).Transitioning from Linear to Circular Economies for Global Sustainability.

World Economic Forum. (2022).Rethinking Global Supply Chains: From "Take-Make-Dispose" to Circularity.

Two key resources that provide information about an organization’s sustainability position and plans are:

Online blog posts (A):Companies frequently use blogs to share their sustainability initiatives, progress, and future goals. These posts often highlight achievements, such as reducing carbon emissions or improving energy efficiency, and communicate their commitment to stakeholders.

Company websites (E):The corporate website is one of the most comprehensive sources of information about a company's sustainability strategy. Organizations often dedicate sections oftheir websites to sustainability, where they detail their environmental policies, sustainability reports, and plans for reducing their environmental impact.

Environmental Sustainability References:

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). (2020).Corporate Sustainability Communication through Websites and Blogs.

Harvard Business Review. (2021).How Companies Use Digital Platforms to Showcase Sustainability Efforts.

McKinsey & Company. (2021).Communicating Corporate Sustainability: The Role of Digital Channels.

The European Green Deal is a comprehensive policy initiative launched by the European Commission in December 2019, with the objective of making the European Union (EU) the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. It serves as the roadmap for transforming the EU's economy and society to become more sustainable by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decoupling economic growth from resource use, and ensuring a just transition for all citizens. The deal's ambitious goals are aligned with the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise.

Key components of the European Green Deal include:

Climate Action: The EU aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This is considered a significant step toward reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Clean Energy Transition: The Deal encourages the adoption of renewable energy, improvement in energy efficiency, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Circular Economy: The European Green Deal promotes the concept of a circular economy, where resources are reused, recycled, and waste is minimized.

Biodiversity Conservation: It also emphasizes the importance of biodiversity, aiming to restore degraded ecosystems, reduce pollution, and enhance the sustainable management of natural resources.

Sustainable Agriculture and Food: Through initiatives like the Farm to Fork Strategy, the EU is striving to ensure a more sustainable food system by reducing the environmental and climate impact of agriculture.

The European Green Deal is supported by legislative packages such as the "Fit for 55" proposals, which include laws and regulations that guide EU member states in achieving their climate goals. These laws touch upon sectors like energy, transportation, industry, and agriculture.

Environmental Sustainability References:

European Commission. (2019).The European Green Deal.Retrieved from:https://ec.europa.eu/green-deal

European Environment Agency. (2020).The European Green Deal: Success Factors and Challenges.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2020).The Role of the European Green Deal in Climate Action.

RACHEL(Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning) is an innovative device that acts as aminiature internet with built-in servers and Wi-Fi routers. It is designed to bring educational resources to remote areas without reliable internet access. The device stores a large amount of offline content, such as educational materials, Wikipedia articles, Khan Academy videos, and open-source textbooks, which can be accessed by users via Wi-Fi without needing an internet connection. This is a powerful tool for promoting education in underserved regions, particularly in developing countries or areas affected by limited infrastructure.

By enabling access to educational content without internet connectivity, RACHEL supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to education and reducing inequalities.

Environmental Sustainability References:

World Possible. (2020).RACHEL – Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2021).The Role of Technology in Expanding Access to Education.