This is how remote work can stop climate change

Extreme weather events such as tropical storms and heatwaves are becoming worldwide occurrences, and scientists have noted a strong link between this extreme weather and climate change.

As one of many approaches being tried to find solutions to tackle this crucial issue, remote work, where employees work from home or in co-working spaces, could prove an important step to help the environment. Based on projects and research initiatives led by several global organizations, it turns out that remote work can reduce our carbon footprint, electricity usage, and waste.

To look at the possibility of reducing our carbon footprint first, more than 90% of an average office worker’s carbon emissions come from their commute to work. However, according to calculations by the International Workplace Group, a multinational workspace provider, if remote work becomes more available globally, 214 tons of CO2 could be saved annually by 2030.

Xerox Corporation, to take one example, currently has more than 8,000 remote employees. While remote work is limited to specific positions, the company estimates that its virtual office program helped save 4.6 million gallons of gasoline annually since its implementation in 2014. Another example would be American technology company Dell, who reported that conducting most meetings online reduced its greenhouse emissions by 6,700 tons since 2014.

Another benefit of remote working is how it can help reduce electricity usage. Employees tend to be more careful about their electricity consumption when they have to pay the bills themselves, so remote work can help increase employees’ environmental awareness, encouraging them to use less electricity. While remote work increases energy consumption per employee by about 20% compared to office work, more electricity can be saved with the fall in demand for office space.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 19-million-barrels worth of oil is consumed by the country’s office buildings per day. The agency anticipates that 1.75-million-barrels worth of oil per day could be saved if all office workers in the U.S. became at least partially remote.

Finally, remote work can help reduce waste. U.K. charity organization WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) explains that remote workers can easily prepare meals at home instead of buying takeaway food. This results in a significantly reduced amount of package waste. In addition, remote work cuts down on office waste, such as non-renewable disposable cups and printed documents, that typically end up shredded or in the trash.

As technology for communication and collaborating on projects continues to advance, the amount of flexible telecommuting is likely to increase at a faster rate. For companies committed to their environmental responsibilities and wanting to achieve a better work-life balance and more comfortable working conditions for their employees, telecommuting could be a sustainable key.

This article was originally published on IDEAS FOR GOOD.
Translated by Misato Noto.