The year 2020 saw a dramatic shift in how people worked as COVID-19 forced everyone indoors with lockdowns and social distancing. The typical work styles, practices, and habits got tossed away, and work-from-home (WFH) became the new norm.

All this caused an unexpected reversal of the negative climatic changes the world had been grappling with up until then. According to studies, CO2 and greenhouse gas levels dropped by an estimated 2.4 billion tons and 4.7%, respectively, during the lockdowns in 2020.

These are staggering numbers by any measure and serve as evidence of the monumental change you can achieve through simple lifestyle changes.

Undoubtedly, this level of environmental improvement didn’t sustain after the lockdowns were lifted. But you can still reduce your carbon footprint and help improve the environment by adopting remote working practices.

4 Ways Working From Home Help the Environment

So, how can you make a positive environmental impact by opting to work from home? Let’s take a look.

1. Minimize emissions

In the US, transportation consumes 30% of total energy, most of it as fossil fuel. This includes private cars, cabs, and public transportation modes, such as buses and trains.

When you switch to remote work, you get to cut down your share of fossil fuel-reliant travels and resulting emissions by a significant percentage.

Telecommuting is also effective in reducing work-related air travel, frequently used for short business meetings and gatherings. Remember, flights are a notable contributor to climate change. For instance, a flight from Boston Logan Airport to Los Angeles Airport emits approximately 588 kg of CO2.

By eliminating all these travels, you get to reduce fossil fuel usage, emissions, and, in effect, your carbon footprint. Less toxicity in the environment improves air quality, too, making the atmosphere much more breathable.

2. Reduce electricity usage

Individual electricity consumption at home may increase due to remote working practices. But you can achieve comparatively higher savings by reducing power usage in your office premises.

The truth is, businesses consume much more electricity than they actually need. They use more lighting than a typical household, given the same square footage of space. They also have additional lit-up areas, such as lobbies, breakout rooms, and cafeterias. Then there are elevators, air conditioners, and idling printers and copiers, which all use electricity, yet you can perfectly do without when working from home.

Combined, all these consume a significant amount of power that you can help eliminate by switching to remote working.

3. Reduce plastics

Plastic consumption is also high when you work in an office. Think about the plastic wrappings around the sandwiches you buy for lunch, the Styrofoam cup your coffee came in, the plastic water bottle on your desk, and the single-use cups and utensils in your office kitchen.

By working remotely, you can cut down many of these instances of plastic use. For example, you get to prepare your own lunch instead of resorting to store-bought pre-made food that comes in plastic containers and wrappings. You can also use regular utensils, cups, and plates at home instead of single-use alternatives.

4. Minimize paper

Each year, an estimated three and a half trees are cut down per American to support their paper and cardboard needs. Inarguably, paper usage is high when you work in an office. When paper bundles and printers are freely available, many people don’t think twice about using them.

But when working from home, you naturally use much fewer printouts. You no longer need to print reports, memos, and other hard-copy documents since sharing takes place digitally, often via emails or cloud platforms. Can you imagine the number of trees you could help save as a result?

Convert Your Home Office Into a Green Space

There is no question about the positive environmental impact you can make by choosing to work from home. If you like to be even more proactive, here are simple steps to minimize your carbon footprint while enjoying your remote working perks.

• Optimize your computer’s power use. For instance, you can set up your computer or laptop to go into sleep mode when idle for a few minutes. In addition, turn it off completely once you have finished work for the day.
• Turn off unused lights and appliances. Use natural daylight as much as possible and open a window if the weather permits to improve airflow. Switching off electronic equipment, such as televisions, instead of leaving them in standby mode can also help cut down energy usage.
• Switch to energy-efficient lighting and equipment.
• Improve insulation to cut down on the use of heating.
• Use shared workspaces. For instance, if you and your partner both work from home, choose a common area in the house as an office space instead of using separate rooms. It can help significantly reduce energy consumption.
• Separate your garbage for better recycling. Remember, you will have more waste to dispose of as you spend more time at home. Find a local recycler on Leadar if you need help and advice.
• Add a few indoor plants to your home workspace. They can improve air quality and help boost your mood, reduce stress, and make you more productive.
• Dress appropriately to suit the weather so you are well-geared to work comfortably during colder and warmer months.

Work for a Greener Tomorrow

Working from home has many perks for both businesses and employees. Companies get to drastically cut down the costs of maintaining office buildings and employee perks, such as free lunches and snacks. On the other hand, employees get to save time and reduce general expenses frequently incurred when commuting and eating out. They also get to eat healthier with home-cooked meals, experience less stress, and enjoy a more balanced life.

But the environmental impact of working from home is equally significant and far-reaching. You get to minimize travel-related emissions, reduce electricity usage, and substantially cut down on plastics and paper. You may be unable to quantify the environmental effects of these actions. But simple changes will often make the biggest impact. And over time, their climatic benefits could be exponential and will make a tremendous difference for future generations