The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed American work life, with a surge in remote work becoming a lasting change. In 2022, solo commuters decreased to 68.7 percent, reflecting millions of fewer daily car rides. Remote work resulted in lower carbon footprints, with fully remote workers achieving a 54 percent reduction compared to their onsite counterparts, according to a study by Microsoft and Cornell University. Despite a decline in public transit usage and increased home energy consumption, the transition to remote work emerged as a unique positive impact in addressing climate concerns.
For nearly 76 percent of Americans in 2019, this was a typical workweek: Wake up, get dressed, pile into a car alone, work, drive home, sleep ... and repeat five times.
Researchers found that even hybrid workers, those splitting their time between home and office work, contribute to a significant drop in carbon emissions.
While the number of people who take public transit to their workplace or walk or bike there has also shrunk significantly since COVID, the shift to remote work and its related reduction in vehicular miles driven is a rare silver lining of the pandemic.
Fully remote workers can have a 54 percent lower carbon footprint than onsite workers, according to a 2023 study from Microsoft and Cornell University.
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