Execs believe it’s not just the environment that can benefit from their companies’ environmental efforts.

Most obvious are the cost savings that come with cutting energy use. But according to a recent survey, upper management is also seeing positive effects in other areas — for example, 47% of execs believe going green can help their companies attract and retain employees, according to a recent survey by Buck Consultants.

Also, 12% of HR pros say green initiatives at their companies have increased employee productivity, according to a 2009 Society of Human Resource Management study. That’s up from 6% last year.

More than 60% of companies have adopted the goal of reducing environmental impact, according to the Buck Consultants survey. The most popular changes companies have made:

• 78% have used teleconferencing to cut back on business travel
• 77% have put HR and benefits documents online, rather than printing them
• 76% promote a reduction in paper use
• 68% have implemented wellness programs
• 57% offer telecommuting opportunities, and
• 52% help employees find carpool partners.

Tags: environment, green, productivity, recruiting, retention