Is Remote Work Really The Most Sustainable Working Option?
On the surface, remote working setups can seem like a great sustainable option. After all, full-time remote workers reduce emissions by around 52% thanks to the removal of commutes and office energy consumption.
But things aren’t always as good as they seem. While there are undeniable sustainability benefits to remote arrangements, there are also clear downsides, such as the fact that weekday residential electricity usage increases by between 20-30%. This is true of all remote workers on your books, compared with one office which, while admittedly producing more output, would work for everyone.
When you consider all of this, remote work doesn’t look quite so sustainable. But it could be, and we’re going to consider a few simple ways you could turn remote work into the most sustainable working solution for your company.
Make Remote Work More Efficient
Many remote workers end up carrying on way past the typical 9-5, meaning that individual energy outputs can increase. By making remote work more efficient, you can reduce the risk of employees working late, and therefore save on energy outputs overall.
Luckily, there are now plenty of tools out there that can help you achieve this goal. Since the pandemic, communication tools like Zoom and Windows Teams have especially taken the fore and can make it easier for you to ensure correct delegations, and team meetings that reduce individual workflows. It’s also possible to simplify the sharing of crucial files using a virtual data room like Share Vault, which ensures even remote employees can access files seamlessly without needing to wait around past traditional working hours. All of which will help to reduce any residential energy increases caused by a remote switch.
Provide Energy Efficient Devices
In the office, you have control over the devices your employees use, meaning that you can enhance sustainability by simply considering things like device outputs and renewable energy sources. It can feel like you lose control over this when employees start working out of the office, but that needn’t be the case.
Providing the most energy-efficient laptops for your team might seem like a steep expense, but it’s a great idea for a company with sustainable values. This way, you can continue to take pride in your green working methods, without the risk that one employee’s decades-old computer will drag your whole reputation down.
Incorporate Hybrid Working
For many employers, hybrid working looks like one of the best sustainability options. This setup, which pairs in-office operations with remote arrangements, can still benefit from reduced commuter emissions, while reducing the amount of energy your employees use at home. Admittedly, you’ll negate any potential benefits if your office is continually open to facilitate hybrid work. But, if you shut your office on days where employees work remotely, and choose to use sustainable, renewable energy when your office is functional, this could be the ideal sustainability middle ground.
Remote work undeniably holds the power to be a more sustainable working choice. Utilize its potential by putting these steps in place.
