A GUIDE BY Alyssa Strickland of Millennial-Parents
“Working remotely can drastically reduce your environmental impact.”
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Over the last five years, these pages have looked at the phenomenon we have come to know as ‘working from home’ – the more recent pieces looking at how in Devon, “the world of remote working is now here to stay”. For many it seems that working from home means working from the seaside here in the charms of East Devon.
In the meantime, these pages have also published guides on WFH, including a guide to remote and hybrid working and a follow-up part two.
The working from home debate continues today – and again these pages are very pleased to be able to publish a new guide to remote working, this time from Alyssa Strickland of Millennial-Parents who does occasional guest pieces – all of which have been not only of interest to Sidmouth but relevant.
What’s fitting about this article is that it is relevant to our town by the sea (people moved here during the pandemic to WFH) and particularly relevant in how the issue has been framed as very much about the environment.
Remote Work and the New Environmental Equation
Remote work isn’t just reshaping careers — it’s reshaping carbon footprints. By shifting from daily commutes to home offices, individuals are quietly rewriting the environmental math of modern living. What used to be an unavoidable source of emissions — cars idling in traffic, office lighting burning for 10 hours straight — is now optional.
TL;DR
Working remotely can drastically reduce your environmental impact. Less commuting = fewer emissions. But it’s not automatically eco-friendly — how you power, heat, and cool your workspace matters just as much. The goal: build sustainable routines that make home offices greener than the ones we left behind.
The Carbon Ripple Effect of Remote Work
Every commute avoided saves fuel and time — but it also sets off a cascade of small energy shifts. Research from the International Energy Agency notes that working from home can lower personal carbon footprints by up to 54%, depending on electricity use and heating habits.
- Transportation: Cutting out a 30-mile round trip saves roughly three tons of CO₂ per year.
- Office overhead: Shared heating and cooling systems in traditional offices account for significant energy draw.
- Digital energy: Increased video conferencing and device charging offset some of these gains, but not all.
Still, tools like EPA’s carbon footprint calculator help remote workers quantify their true impact.
Practical Ways to Green Your Home Office
Below is a how-to checklist to keep your eco-gains intact:
- Use LED lighting and natural daylight when possible
- Power electronics with a smart plug or timer
- Switch to renewable energy via your utility provider
- Use an Energy Star–rated laptop or monitor
- Unplug chargers when not in use
- Keep a plant or two nearby — they filter air naturally
- Adjust thermostat zones (no need to heat/cool unused rooms)
Bonus: Platforms like Arcadia or OhmConnect make switching to green energy easy.
Comparing Environmental Impacts
| Activity | Traditional Office | Remote Work | Environmental Impact |
| Daily Commute | Avg. 25 miles/day | 0 miles | Major emission reduction |
| Office Lighting | Shared grid energy | Personalized use | Depends on energy source |
| HVAC | Central system | Home zoned control | More efficient with smart thermostats |
| Printing | High-volume | Digital-first | Less paper waste |
| Food | Takeout-heavy | Home-cooked | Less packaging, less waste |
Building Skills and Sustainability Together
Remote work isn’t just a convenience — it’s a long-term shift in how we learn and grow.
Earning an online degree can simultaneously expand your professional skill set and lower your carbon output by cutting campus energy use and travel emissions.
If you’re considering a business-focused path that builds leadership and management capabilities, you can check this out — a business management program that equips professionals to lead distributed teams while maintaining sustainable operations.
Small Changes, Big Effects
It’s not just what you avoid — it’s what you replace. Choosing a reusable coffee mug over disposable pods, supporting local delivery options, or composting at home compounds your footprint reduction. Apps like Olio help reduce food waste from remote lifestyles.
Featured Eco-Tool Spotlight
Before you rush to buy new equipment, consider the TerraPass carbon offset program. It lets you calculate and balance unavoidable emissions — like occasional business flights — through verified renewable energy projects. Tools like this can complement your everyday sustainability choices.
FAQs: Remote Work & the Planet
Q1. Does working from home always reduce emissions?
Not always. Energy-hungry devices or poorly insulated homes can offset commuting savings.
Q2. What’s the best way to measure my footprint?
Try using the Global Footprint Network calculator.
Q3. Can remote work increase digital waste?
Yes — old hardware and constant upgrades add e-waste. Recycle responsibly through Best Buy’s e-waste program.
Q4. How can employers support sustainability?
By offering energy stipends, encouraging green upgrades, and using remote-first platforms like Slack and Notion that reduce physical infrastructure dependency.
Remote work offers a powerful environmental advantage — but only if we treat our homes like micro-ecosystems. The challenge isn’t just cutting travel; it’s reengineering daily habits to be lighter, cleaner, and more intentional. Every unplugged charger, every reusable coffee cup, every short break outdoors adds up to something bigger — a work culture that sustains both people and the planet.
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