The Great Resignation is here. People are leaving the office behind and searching for a more flexible lifestyle. Whether it’s to cut down on daily expenses, become digital nomads, or spend quality time with their loved ones, the new world of work gives people the power to design a workflow and life they love.
Besides giving workers more individual freedom, remote work and e-learning has the power to positively transform your relationship with the environment. When you choose a remote job, you can improve your mental health, reduce your carbon footprint, kiss energy-hungry office spaces goodbye, and more. Read on and discover how telecommuting can make the future more sustainable!
Say Goodbye to Car Emissions and Long Commutes
Picture the last time you were in a traffic jam. Even thinking about it can conjure up anxiety-inducing memories of wasting hours of your day being stuck on the highway. Not to mention the environmental damage, increase in air pollution, and extra gas consumption that can leave entire cities polluted. In fact, transportation is one of the largest culprits of fossil fuels in the US alone. However, with remote work, many of these problems can be a thing of the past. Even by working from home four days a week, you can help reduce air pollution by up to 10% by not dealing with the daily commute.
Less Power Consumption and Office Building Space
Did you know that large buildings generate 40% of carbon dioxide production? Traditional office buildings can produce more carbon emissions than working from home due to increased appliance use and outdated energy technology. This increased carbon output produces greenhouse gases, which accelerates the rate of climate change. In the long run, telecommuting can reduce an office building’s carbon footprint, even if it’s just for one day a week.
Having a remote workforce can also help you better manage your office waste if you’re an employer. By downsizing or having a fully remote team, your company can help reduce commercial waste emissions by an impressive 70%!
Better Air Quality
Air pollution is one of the most significant causes of health problems globally, killing over eight million people worldwide each year. The pollutants in the air can lead to everything from cancer to permanent brain damage. This is especially true for lower income communities, which often live in more polluted areas. It’s also a significant contributor to climate change due to fossil fuel usage which in return produces poor air quality.
This is why remote work can be a creative solution to improve air quality. By not having to drive your car or use public transportation nearly as much, you can reduce greenhouse gases, creating a healthier environment for everyone.
Less Crowded Cities
Up until recently, if you wanted access to better job opportunities moving to a larger city was one of your only options. However, remote work enables you to advance your career from anywhere. Why base yourself in an overpriced city when you can live somewhere with a better quality of life for half the price?
When you choose to live in a smaller town or rural area, it also helps local businesses flourish. In fact, cities like Tulsa are creating programs designed to attract remote workers with their Remote Tulsa program, giving qualified individuals $10,000 if they agree to move to the city for a year. With urban environments contributing to 5% of greenhouse gases, it’s a great opportunity to go somewhere greener with a smaller carbon footprint.
Better Work Life Balance and Mental Health
When you work remotely, you can also create a better work environment for yourself, which can dramatically improve your mental health. With a flexible schedule and endless freedom, remote work can let you genuinely enjoy your life. You now have a chance to spend more valuable quality time with family and friends, get lost in nature, pursue your hobbies, and even volunteer your time in meaningful ways that help your community.
The transition to remote work is also a massive win for your overall state of mind. Without being forced to work in unpleasant work settings, waiting through traffic, and living in polluted areas, you can have a healthier lifestyle and do your part to save the planet.
Creating a Sustainable World through Remote Work
While this newly preferred style of working is gradually on the rise, the pandemic sped up the workplace trend to the point where it’s becoming the norm. In fact, according to Vox, roughly 7 out of 10 Americans will be working remotely by 2025.
While telecommuting isn’t the only solution to a greener planet, it can help companies and workers re-evaluate their priorities. For the first time in history, it is possible for the employee to control when and where they work. Gone are the days of punching in time cards in wasteful large offices, producing greenhouse gas emissions through mind-numbing commutes, and living in polluted megacities. The new world of work is here to stay, and with it comes a greener and equitable future for everyone.
ecomadic is a sustainable tourism brand that empowers travelers to make more conscious decisions. By curating a marketplace to easily find and identify responsible businesses to support, and providing educational publications through our online green travel magazine, ecomadic is committed to helping empower travelers make responsible choices throughout their journeys.
Want to learn more?
Remote Work Shown To Significantly Improve Mental Health, 80% Prefer Flex Options Post-Pandemic – Forbes
Impact of congestion on greenhouse gas emissions for road transport in Mumbai metropolitan region – ScienceDirect
How Eco-Friendly Is Remote Working? – Forbes
Buildings & Built Infrastructure – EESI
Weathering the Essential: A Look Inside the COVID-19 Impact on the Waste and Recycling Industry – Waste 360
Not All Air is Created Equal: How Air Pollution Impacts Lower-Income Communities Worldwide – ecomadic
How air pollution is destroying our health – World Health Organization
How Remote Work Can Help Boost Rural Communities – Bloomberg Tax
Tulsa Remote – Tulsa Remote
Environmental Impacts of Urban Growth – Yale
How Does Your Environment Affect Your Mental Health? – Very Well Mind
How remote work is quietly remaking our lives – Vox
