Is working from home a greener option than the office?

Posted on Jun 30, 2022

When the world shut down in Spring 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, mixed in amongst the fear and worry was relief from those who no longer had to endure long, expensive commutes.  Other than essential and frontline workers, a large majority of the world’s population set up office at home and, for a while, enjoyed the small silver lining of not commuting. 

Now, over two years on from the start of the pandemic, employers are still grappling with how their workforce should work and importantly, where.

The Enterprise carbon management software platform, Minimum, argues businesses must act with sufficient due diligence to assess which way of working is better for the planet.

The global shutdown had a significant impact on the environment.  The national lockdowns that took place over the world saw wildlife sightings increase, air quality improve and carbon emissions drop.  Two weeks after the nationwide lockdown was announced on March 23 in the UK, NO₂ pollution in some cities fell by as much as 60% compared to the same period in 2019. NASA revealed that NO₂ pollution over New York and other major metropolitan areas in north-eastern USA was 30% lower in March 2020, compared to the monthly average from 2015 to 2019.

Minimum’s Founding Sustainability Lead, James Parker says:

“As businesses continue to navigate the return to the office, it’s imperative employers consider which way of working is better for our environment.  People who live an hour’s drive from the office could work primarily from home, reducing their daily carbon emissions, whereas people who can use public transport or walk or cycle to the office might find their overall emissions are actually lower when working in the office.”

As carbon management becomes embedded in business, Minimum believes employers should start to consider the emissions associated with how and where people work, whilst of course taking into consideration fairness for the entire workforce and ensuring employee wellbeing.  The Greenhouse Gas Protocol does not require businesses to report emissions associated with working from home, but Minimum argues companies must start to factor these in if they are to stay ahead of the curve.

James Parker says:

“By omitting commuting or working from home emissions, businesses have an incomplete picture of their carbon footprint.  We anticipate the GHG Protocol will continue to evolve and expand.  Now Scope 3 is becoming mandatory we are seeing more aspects of business operations being brought within organisational boundaries of responsibility from an emissions perspective.  It is essential employers future-proof their carbon management today if they are to have a system that is fit for purpose tomorrow.”

Minimum believes there are opportunities for employers to manage carbon emissions from working from home by supporting the switch to renewable electricity among their employees or by subsiding energy efficiency upgrades in employees’ homes.  Upgrades could include a range of individually small things that add up to a large impact in totality, such as maximising current insulation with draught blockers, using curtains and blinds effectively, moving furniture or installing quick-sealing windows.   Employers could also subsidise interest-free loans for the installation of heat pumps, double glazing, or more energy-efficient boilers.