"Boss, Working from Home Also Protects the Environment"…Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop Sharply

Reduced Energy Consumption and Commuting Emissions in Office
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Decrease by 59% During Remote Work
However, Minimal Reduction Effect When Working from Home Only Once a Week

A study by American researchers has been published showing that working from home emits less greenhouse gases than working in an office.

On the 18th (local time), according to the US daily Washington Post (WP) and others, researchers from Cornell University and Microsoft (MS) analyzed energy use at home and in offices, commuting, non-work-related outings, and information technology (IT) usage based on data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) residential energy consumption survey and MS employees' commuting and remote work data. Their paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), estimated greenhouse gas emissions by work type.

The results showed that working from home full-time emits 54% less greenhouse gases compared to working in an office.

Hybrid work, which combines working from home and commuting, also reduces greenhouse gas emissions depending on the number of days worked from home. Working from home 2 to 4 days a week can reduce emissions by up to 29%.

The researchers analyzed that the more days worked from home, the less energy is used in the office and the lack of commuting helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also noted that remote work alleviates traffic congestion, which improves fuel efficiency of transportation, representing another greenhouse gas reduction effect of working from home.

However, the reduction in emissions from working from home once a week was only 2%.

The researchers explained, "The small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from working from home once a week is because emissions from non-work-related outings and energy use at home mostly offset the reductions from remote work."

However, the researchers said that to maximize the greenhouse gas reduction effect of working from home, attention is needed to commuting patterns, energy consumption, vehicle ownership, and non-work-related outings.

Also, Yeow Fung Chi, a co-author of the study from Cornell University, pointed out that while working from home clearly has a positive effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, "the question is how positive it is."

He added, "It has been confirmed that people tend to emit more greenhouse gases through social activities while working from home," emphasizing that working from home does not necessarily mean zero carbon emissions.

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