Sustainable Office: How to Reduce CO2 Emissions by Up to 70%
A recent study highlights the cost-saving benefits of remote and hybrid work models.
by Julia Zahmow
As advocates for hybrid work models, we continuously explore the latest studies related to them. In this blog post, we are excited to share the results of a groundbreaking study that highlights the significant potential for reducing CO2 emissions through the adoption of hybrid work models. In short: By incorporating remote work into their operations, companies have the potential to cut transport and building emissions by 70%. Let's take a closer look at how it can be done.
The Key to Sustainable Office Solutions
The study in focus was spearheaded by the International Workplace Group PLC and Arup, concentrating on major cities in the US and the UK. We're confident that these findings can be extrapolated to Europe and perhaps to other developed nations. Across all scenarios and cities examined, the traditional 5-day office week was the leading contributor to carbon emissions. However, transitioning from this conventional model to flexible remote work setups can curtail carbon emissions from both buildings and transportation by well over half. Impressively, a reduction of up to 70% was observed in Los Angeles alone.
High potential for savings lies in transportation: With remote work, emissions from daily commutes are effectively nullified. These reductions can be further augmented by embracing eco-friendly commuting alternatives like walking, cycling, or using public transportation. Additionally, optimizing office space utilization can also contribute to further reductions in emissions.
Hybrid Work Can Reduce CO2 Emissions
In U.S. cities, potential savings are significant due to extended commuting distances, prevalent use of larger, less energy-efficient vehicles, and a lower reliance on public transportation. Therefore, remote work can lead to significant savings in transportation emissions. However, even in major UK cities where public transportation is well-integrated, a shift to a remote work model that includes both home and local workspace arrangements can reduce transport emissions by up to 80%. This reduction is remarkable and does not even include the benefits of incorporating more sustainable transportation alternatives. The urgency of these shifts becomes evident when we consider that domestic transport accounts for 23% of all CO2 emissions across the EU, as reported by the EEA. (EEA)
Smart Office Space Optimization Cuts Building Emissions
As we all know, building-related CO2 emissions pose a significant threat to the environment and it's our responsibility to act. In Germany, buildings are responsible for around 33% of the total energy consumption. (BWE) According to UNEP, the construction and building industry accounts for 38% of global CO2 emissions, both directly and indirectly. By embracing hybrid work, companies can make a significant impact on reducing office space requirements, resulting in substantial cost savings and reductions in building-related CO2 emissions. (M.O.O.CON). Moreover, in the buildings carbon analysis the IWG study shows that building emissions from gas and electricity can be reduced by up to 41%, depending on the remote work model chosen and the location of the office.
Hybrid Work Has Financial and Social Benefits
When it comes to the budgetary impact of implementing hybrid working, studies have shown that organizations in the US can save around $11,000 per employee per year, according to Global Workplace Analytics. This is a great example of how environmental and economic sustainability can complement each other.
On the social front, hybrid working can also contribute positively to work-life balance, as found by a study from Blomqvist. Flexible hours and remote working can help employees maintain a better balance between their personal and professional lives. Additionally, employees who work remotely have reported being able to focus on tasks just as well as, if not better than, they would in a traditional office setting.
A survey from ECB revealed that commuting time is a critical personal factor that employees consider when opting for work-from-home over office work. Hybrid or remote work models provide employees with the opportunity to spend less time commuting, which can have a significant impact on their overall work experience.
We Support You in Implementing Sustainable Hybrid Work Models
We believe that hybrid work provides various benefits for employees, companies, and the environment. However, hybrid work models come with their own set of challenges. Tough decisions need to be made regarding remote work days, mandatory office days, the number of workplaces offered, and necessary facilities, among other things.
In hybrid work environments, new tools are required for utilization analysis, booking shared resources, accessing personal storage, and planning days at the office. Our consulting team and trained partners have supported numerous global enterprises in their transition to hybrid work. If you want to learn from our experiences, feel free to contact us and ask for a free hybrid-office check.
With Thing-it, we offer a scalable enterprise workplace experience platform with all the necessary components to bring your hybrid work strategy to life. We provide you with reliable sensor-based occupancy data, a space analytics and management interface, and our easy-to-use Thing-it App, which acts as a digital companion to your employees’ needs in and around your hybrid office. If you want to learn more about our sustainable office solutions, don't hesitate to book a demo.
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