The Suburban Economic Study commissioned by flexible office operator Regus found that by 2029, outer city office spaces will reduce carbon emissions equivalent to 1.2 million transatlantic flights between London and New York each year.
The study found that flexible workspaces located in smaller towns, cities and suburbs will have numerous environmental benefits.
For example, allowing people to work from home saves workers an average of 7,416 hours each year, which equates to a reduction of 110 metric tonnes of carbon emissions per workspace, per year.
“In an age where every business and individual has a responsibility for their environmental impact in the world, commuting into major cities looks increasingly old fashioned,” said Alexander Sykes, New Zealand Country Manager for Regus. “Our vision is that, in the near future, there will be a professional workspace available on every corner ending the idea of commuting for good. This will benefit our personal health, as well as that of our planet.”
Additionally, the study found that suburban workspaces could contribute over NZ$401 billion to local economies in the next decade. It also revealed that an average of 121 new jobs are created in communities with flexible workspaces.