Different areas of the world derive their energy from different sources. While working from home may seem like the more sustainable option, it may not be as black and white as we thought.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in remote jobs and a decrease in employees going into the office.
Companies have taken on hybrid working in an attempt to give their employees the best of both worlds while being cautious amidst the pandemic, but the question comes in, is working from home or the office more sustainable for the environment?
Many experts say that is it not where you are working that makes the difference but rather how you work and the personal habits you have created while working.
If you are wanting to find out the answers, continue reading as we break down which is more environmentally friendly and why.
Less Travel But More Energy Use
It is easy to assume that fewer cars on the road and more employees working from home is the better option when it comes to saving the environment, however, studies have shown that it is not as clear-cut as we may have once thought.
Researchers at the University of Sussex carried out a systematic review investigating the impact of teleworking on the environment. After strenuously examining the effects of both remote working and working at home, they concluded that the energy savings were limited regardless of where one worked.
They stated that part-time working could lead to an overall increase in energy usage as larger buildings and office blocks are generally more sustainable in terms of the energy they use and when.
How Sustainable Is Working Remotely?
Many companies around the world have integrated remote working into their employee's schedules, whether it be for 4 days a week or split into two. However, some researchers hypothesize that hybrid working may not be the best solution to energy conservation and sustainability.
What many organizations may not consider is that less time at work means more time at home. This may entice employees to move further away from their office space, increasing travel time and commuting costs when they do go to work for the day.
Additionally, there will be very few environmental gains if large companies decide to keep the large establishments while having most employees working from home. Factors such as heating and lighting up a building that has less than half of its employees in it make little to no environmental sense.
On top of that, numerous employees are constantly working from home, which means doubling up on office supplies such as monitors and printers, and the use of more lighting, and heating which may all affect the environmental demand for energy.
Therefore, if companies decide to continue this era of working from home or remote working, handling how they manage their employees is essential when it comes to sustainability and environmental friendliness, even if it is just a fraction. A little bit goes a long way.
Are There Any Real Benefits To Working From Home?
Well, like everything - there are advantages and disadvantages to working from home. But it is not to say that it is all negative.
A good place to start would be how you get to and from work. For instance, an employee who drives to work in a car will save a lot more and reduce their footprint a bit more than someone who travels via train.
An additional benefit to working from home is that people tend to purchase fewer things, meaning reduced packaging whether it be for reusable coffee cups or takeaways at lunch. This is an important factor as it aids in cutting back on single-use plastic, which is a huge environmental problem globally - especially with the use of disposable face masks.
When working from the office, we often take advantage of the ready-made meals and skip out on meal prepping as a whole. This means more packaging that is sometimes not recyclable too and possibly more food waste.
Whereas, when working from home you are less likely to order in and more likely to prepare meals prior - or use it as a time to destress and take a break from your workday.
How Can We Make Working From Home More Environmentally Friendly?
Although working from home won't solve the world's climate crisis, every little bit counts. It’s all about the tiny habits you make that can change your life and make a difference. Being aware and actively making effort to reduce your carbon footprint is one step closer to a better future. Here are a few ways you can reduce waste when working remotely:
- Make use of renewable energy sources
- Don't leave your computer on standby throughout the night
- Only use lights or heating in the room you are working in, turn the rest off
- Avoid ordering from fast-food outlets and make your food at home
Conclusion
While the complete benefits of working from home remain unclear, there has been room for all of us to understand where some of these advantages or disadvantages lie.
There are apparent benefits to reducing your travel time and energy savings in large buildings but that is not to dismiss the benefits of working in an office either. From employee wellbeing to better work-life balance - all these factors need to be considered when planning which strategy may be best for your company and employees.
