Remote work has been here for some time, but it exploded with millennials, the pandemic, and all the tools the internet has introduced. Cloud technology, video conferences, and more helped boost this new way of working.
Some of the changes associated with this new way of working are obvious, like a better work-life balance, but most people weren’t expecting the surprising effects it’s having on the environment. These effects are there. They are real, and it’s quite interesting to dive into.
How is the Environment Being Affected
It’s being affected in more ways than one. The most obvious has to do with carbon emissions. There’s no denying that remote working means employees don’t have to drive to work.
A company can employ dozens or hundreds of employees. That’s a lot of cars zipping through the streets day in and day out. This is no longer a necessity, thanks to remote work, which is dramatically reducing carbon emissions. This means a company can claim to be working towards reducing carbon emissions, and they wouldn’t be lying.
Each employee can rest easy knowing that their carbon footprint is no longer what it used to be.
It doesn’t stop there, though. Since a growing number of people are working remotely and reducing carbon emissions, they’re also improving air quality. It’s no secret that air quality has been suffering for a long time. This is especially true in larger cities. The smog can be so thick that it’s hard to see the night’s stars.
Less driving means air quality will and has been improving. It should be pointed out that poor air quality seems to lead to issues like respiratory problems, just to name one thing.
Folks with asthma or other respiratory issues might feel slightly better, thanks to this change in the workforce. It’s unbelievable that all it took to make these changes are a few software updates and cloud-based technologies that help employees work together remotely.
This type of work is indeed becoming popular, but it needs to grow more. Some employers are having a hard time adjusting and trusting their employees, but hopefully, that changes. It seems to help the environment, and that’s good news for everyone.
Thankfully, there are companies like Insightful offering tools like an employee productivity tracker tool, which can go a long way towards establishing trust between the employer and the remote worker.
Everything is not perfect. Some argue that working from home could increase energy consumption, while the technology used to work doesn’t change.
Employees have to use computers in both environments, but there are some changes worth considering. For example, instead of cooling one building down to keep employees comfortable, each employee has to run their AC individually. This is just one drawback though. There are many more positives, and if the environment is in as much trouble as experts claim, every beneficial change counts for something.
The natural environment isn’t the only thing benefiting from remote workers. The reduction of drivers also helps city dwellers a bit. It’s no secret that traffic has been a major problem for some time. People spend hours in traffic sometimes. That’s not fun. It’s stressful, and it’s something no one needs. Remote workers are reducing traffic congestion and making city traveling a bit easier.
With fewer drivers on the street, cities may be able to restore infrastructures more effectively. Many roads, bridges, and other constructions are in serious need of repair, but traffic makes it challenging for cities to do something about that.
This change in the workforce might make it easier for cities to catch up. This may create good-paying jobs, and it’ll make driving much safer. Surely, people have noticed that the number of bridges collapsing has been rising over the last few years. This isn’t good. It’s something that has to be addressed.
