Is Working From Home More Sustainable?

Julie Starr • November 12, 2021



The work-from-home revolution has well and truly begun. The people leading the charge for shifting towards a totally work-from-home state will often cite many of its supposed benefits. Amongst the advantages listed, there will always be claims of it being more sustainable and eco-friendly than working in an office. 

What we’re interested in is getting to the truth of the matter. Is this actually an accurate statement? Is it better for the sustainability of your business to have everyone working remotely, rather than all coming to an office? Let’s look at the main arguments and points…

No commute

One of the biggest reasons people say working from home is better for the environment is that it removes the need for commuting . Picture a world in which nobody commuted to the office every day – think about how many carbon emissions would no longer be released into the atmosphere. In all honesty, there are no arguments against this point. Yes, working from home will reduce your carbon footprint by making you drive less. The impact can be considerable if you have employees living over an hour away from the office – that’s over two hours of commuting ripped to shreds each day, equating to ten hours a week or forty hours a month. Think about how many carbon fumes this prevents!

Yes, you can argue that employees traveling to work in electric vehicles or via bikes won’t create carbon emissions anyway. However, it’s pretty hard to guarantee or enforce a rule where people can only commute these ways. 

Lower energy consumption

Another argument is that less energy is consumed when working from home, compared to being in an office. Again, this can be an accurate claim. There have been studies that show that – in the majority of cases – working from home can cut energy use . It’s because you use fewer devices when everyone is working from home, and you can also call upon everyone’s individual energy consumption. For example, you have no need to power a whole room full of computers or servers in an office. Instead, each individual has their own device at home – which might have eco-friendly settings to use up even less energy. 

Not only that, but you have to take things like lighting into account as well. In an office, you’ll probably light the entire space for the entirety of the day. Even with efficient lighting, that equates to a lot of energy being consumed throughout the week. At home, you only need to light the space you’re working in. Thankfully, nobody needs a lot of space at home anyway! Think about it, everything you could possibly need is all on one device. You can access your accounting software, marketing software, employee recognition software , HR software, and so on. All you need is a small space to work at a desk – which can be in your bedroom, kitchen, or home office. This means the rest of your home can remain in darkness during the day, reducing energy consumption. 

What about winter energy consumption?

At this point, everything looks great. Working from home is surely more sustainable as you use less energy and cut down on commutes. However, things get a bit harder in the winter. There has been research that suggests working from home uses more energy in the winter months because of heating demands. Energy consumption referring to your devices and lighting doesn’t change, but you use more energy when heating your home. 

It’s believed that this is down to the heating systems in homes and offices. With an office, you have a more sophisticated system that’s designed to heat your office space as efficiently as possible. You also have the benefit of being part of a larger building, meaning you get more heat from other offices around you. When everyone works from home, you have each individual home using their heating system to stay warm. It can mean that more energy is used throughout winter, making working from home less sustainable than you initially thing. 

Nevertheless, in conclusion, you should view working from home as a better solution for the environment. The only issue is the winter cold snap, but you can find ways around this. For instance, introduce flexible working where people come to the office for a few days per week in the winter. Or, educate your employees on how to cut their energy consumption at home when it gets cold. The bottom line is that, over the course of 12 months, working from home will be more sustainable. It’s just that you should be aware and more conscious of your energy consumption at home when it gets cold.

Why Telling Your Sustainability Story Matters — And How Taiga Company Can Help

By Julie Starr • December 17, 2024
In today’s world, sustainability is no longer a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. Consumers, investors, and stakeholders are demanding more transparency and accountability from brands. They don’t just want to know what you sell; they want to know who you are, what you stand for, and how your work contributes to a better world. That’s where your sustainability story comes in. Sharing your achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about building trust, fostering loyalty, and inspiring action. At Taiga Company, we specialize in helping organizations authentically communicate their sustainability achievements in ways that drive measurable impact and align with their goals. Why Sharing Your Sustainability Achievements Is Good for Business Build Trust with Stakeholders Sustainability storytelling builds credibility and trust. Whether you’re addressing investors, employees, or customers, sharing your sustainability milestones demonstrates your commitment to accountability and long-term value creation. For example: Highlight your efforts in achieving science-based targets, reducing carbon emissions, or adopting circular economy practices. These stories resonate with audiences looking for businesses that align with their values. Differentiate Your Brand In a competitive marketplace, sustainability can set you apart. Brands that communicate their achievements in regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, or biodiversity conservation position themselves as industry leaders and innovators. Think of it this way: A well-told sustainability story is not just a report—it’s a statement of leadership, authenticity, and purpose. Drive Stakeholder Engagement Sustainability stories invite dialogue. By showcasing meaningful milestones, like successful recycling initiatives or community reforestation projects, you foster stronger relationships with stakeholders who want to be part of your mission. Engagement isn’t just about storytelling; it’s about inspiring action. Whether through social media campaigns, press releases, or executive thought leadership, your achievements can encourage others to collaborate and support your goals. Attract Purpose-Driven Talent and Customers Today’s workforce and consumers seek brands with purpose. Communicating your impact helps attract talent and customers who align with your mission. A transparent, well-executed sustainability strategy speaks volumes about your leadership and values. At Taiga Company, we specialize in results-driven communications that empower purpose-led brands to share their sustainability achievements with confidence and clarity. Our services ensure your story resonates with the audiences that matter most. Your sustainability achievements deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, innovating in sustainable packaging, or leading water stewardship initiatives, telling your story is an opportunity to inspire trust, drive action, and shape a better future.

Why Going Green Is No Longer Optional for Industry Leaders

By Julie Starr • December 16, 2024
Alright, so here’s the deal, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Sure, at this most most industries, yes, even the most unsustainable industries have this general idea, right? Well, you’re always going to find some businesses in some niches (and yes, industries too) who think that it doesn’t apply to them. But no, it applies to all niches and all industries, and yes, it’s a business requirement. Now, across every industry, the companies that are embracing green practices are the ones that are thriving. Why? Well, because customers, investors, and employees are all paying attention. If a business isn’t making an effort to be sustainable, it’s not just falling behind, it’s losing out. Overall, sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about saving your business. Yes, this needs to be hammered in, so industry leaders, here’s why you’re just not excused. Green Practices Mean Growth Yep, it’s that plain and simple, So, sustainability isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s about doing the smart thing. Businesses that prioritize green practices are cutting costs, staying competitive, and building trust with their audiences. So, reducing waste, switching to renewable energy, and sourcing materials ethically aren’t just good for the planet, they’re great for the bottom line. Simple enough, right? Well, take packaging, for example. Cutting down on unnecessary plastics doesn’t just make customers happy; it slashes production and disposal costs. So, switching to energy-efficient operations isn’t just environmentally friendly, rather, it saves a fortune on utilities. There don’t need to be roadblocks seen, rather they should be opportunities! There’s Plenty to Gain Okay, so sustainability isn’t just for industries with obvious environmental impact, it’s critical in healthcare too. Again, no excuses here. Hospitals and clinics use massive amounts of energy, and the waste from single-use supplies piles up fast. The same can be said for labs, and pharmacies too. Actually, go ahead and take specialty drugs as an example. Now, most people know that these life-changing treatments are for serious conditions, but they often come with sky-high costs. But why? Well, the production and distribution processes can be incredibly resource-heavy. But even sustainable practices can help lower prices, such as energy-efficient manufacturing or even cutting down on excess packaging. It might be hard to see, but little changes can make massive impacts on costs (and what’s being spent on both ends). Tech Easily Shows How Sustainability Drives Innovation The tech industry has been leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, and the results speak for themselves. Actually, companies like Google and Apple are proving that being green isn’t just possible, but this can actually be pretty profitable! If tech companies can do this, then yeah, all industries are capable. So above, medicine was mentioned, but data centers are also a great example ( since they use a lot of energy). Well, nowadays, most companies are now powering these centers with renewable energy, cutting costs and emissions at the same time. No Industry Gets a Free Pass It doesn’t matter if it’s healthcare, tech, retail, or manufacturing, basically, every industry has something to gain by going green. There are small examples like retailers ditching plastic bags for reusable ones. Then there are bigger examples like factories rethinking supply chains to cut emissions and save costs. But the reality is that businesses sticking to wasteful, outdated practices are falling behind. Besides, governments are rolling out stricter regulations.
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