Remote Work’s Green Potential: Can Working from Home Slash Carbon Emissions?

For environmentally conscious employees, working from home doesn’t necessarily mean you will reduce your carbon footprint. A recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA examined the environmental impact of remote work arrangements and found that, while remote work has the potential to cut an individual’s carbon emissions by more than half, it depends greatly on an individual’s choice to adopt sustainable practices at home.  

The research, as featured in the Scientific American, was led by Fengqi You, a systems engineer at Cornell University. You and the team of researchers analyzed factors such as commuting, noncommute travel, IT devices, office and residential energy use.  

Interestingly, the study debunked some common assumptions. For instance, while it might seem that remote workers would drive less without a commute, they often take multiple short car trips throughout the day, according to Scientific American. Additionally, working from home can lead to increased energy consumption due to the use of amenities like air-conditioning and dishwashers. There’s also a growing number of remote workers who are relocating from urban to suburban or even rural areas — which can have a higher carbon footprint. 

Despite these factors, remote work still holds a lot of potential for reducing carbon emissions. The study found that individuals working remotely four or more days out of the work week could reduce their carbon footprint by up to 54%, provided they adopt sustainable practices. Some of these sustainable practices include using energy-efficient appliances, driving electric vehicles, or sourcing electricity from renewable sources. 

The research also suggests that there’s also potential for making office spaces more environmentally friendly. Retrofitting older buildings with energy-efficient appliances and encouraging public transit could make in-office work as green as remote work, according to the Scientific American.  

While remote work presents an opportunity for a more sustainable future, it’s not an all-encompassing solution. It will be important for individuals and organizations to adopt a more holistic approach to sustainability — whether working remotely or in a more traditional office setting. Remote work’s environmental impact will largely depend on the choices we make.