Is Working from Home Better for Our Climate?

As a researcher, I really have to say that it depends. But if homeworking is structured correctly, then yes, it is. If we are mindful of a few things, working from home is better for the climate than conditions were prior to the pandemic, when the majority of workers commuted to their jobs by car five days a week.

The amount by which homeworking causes household energy consumption to rise depends on a number of different factors such as the home’s heating system and whether other people are present at home. Household electricity consumption in the city of Zurich in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, increased by 6%, but that figure doesn’t include energy used for heating. At the same time, though, 2020 was not a normal year. In addition to working from home, we generally spent more time at home anyway, for instance because restaurants and other establishments were closed part of the time.

One way or another, working from home will probably increase household energy consumption. That’s why it’s important at the same time for companies to scale back their office space to lower building energy consumption. If they do that and commuter traffic decreases at the same time, working from home will definitely contribute to protecting our climate.

Yes, I think they do. After all, companies expect their employees to show up to work. That’s why companies should see to it that their employees’ commutes do not cause inordinate greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the world’s most widely used accounting standard for CO₂ emissions, requires companies to measure and report on emissions caused by commuting.

The majority of workers in Switzerland commute to work by car. Meanwhile, cars are the mode of transportation that produces the highest CO₂ emissions per kilometer. So, if we want to reduce emissions caused by commuting, we principally need to cut back on commuting by car, for instance by working from home. Moreover, a company can encourage its employees to use climate-friendly modes of transportation when they come to work onsite. Finally, a company can also influence its employees’ commutes through the choice of where it locates its operations. That, however, is a long-term decision that depends on many other factors. In a nutshell, people should commute less frequently, and when they do commute, ideally it should be over shorter distances using climate-friendly means of transportation.

By setting up programs that motivate employees to go to work on foot, by bicycle, or with public transportation and to ditch driving solo to work in a car built to carry four to five passengers. Such programs can take a wide array of forms. For example, a carpooling platform could be set up. Companies can also create financial incentives such as subsidies for bicycles or public transit passes – after all, company cars are often subsidized. This can also contribute to employees’ health and happiness. Finally, a lot can be achieved simply by educating employees about ecological transportation options.

That’s a good example. I assume that SIX was still able to continue operating its business?

This illustrates that many business trips taken prior to the pandemic were unnecessary. Flying, of course, can’t be eschewed altogether. I, too, am of the opinion that personal contact is important. But once a relationship has been established, a lot can be done remotely. We have the tools today for that and know how to use them.

It is very important for companies to get down to dealing with this matter right away. During the pandemic, we learned that flex work yields a lot of benefits when it’s organized properly. Moreover, employees’ expectations regarding work flexibility have changed a lot. Where can I work from? How autonomously can I choose my work location?

Now is the time for companies to develop suitable work concepts for the future the take business and workers’ needs as well as the needs of the environment into account. Homeworking naturally lends itself as a logical solution. If I don’t force employees to commute to work five days a week, which can be mentally stressful and a considerable drain on time for many by the way, social and environmental aspects would go hand in hand.

I would take a look at how much office space we can cut without harming workers’ contentment and productivity. It can be done through the use of flexible workspaces and open spaces. What’s also needed is a reservation system for workspaces and lockers for workers’ belongings so that nobody comes to work and finds him or herself without a workspace. Shared co-working spaces are an option in the long term – then everyone can work in an office close to home.

In addition, incentives should be created to encourage employees to use climate-friendly means of transportation when they go to work. Employees and executives have to be supported during the period of transitioning to homeworking because new skill sets will be needed with regard to management, cooperation, and organizing daily work routines.