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The introduction of hybrid working policies by various businesses is proving to be a benefit for both the environment and their bottom lines.
A recent IWG survey has revealed that the average energy consumption for companies has fallen by 19 per cent since the introduction of hybrid working policies, to the benefit of their business outcomes and the environment.
Overall, hybrid working has enabled businesses to cut energy usage by a fifth, as they replace large city-centre office space with smaller, more energy-efficient spaces, including flexible workspaces. Other key findings in the research display the other environmental benefits:
- Eighty-four per cent of businesses that have adopted hybrid working have reduced their energy usage and overall carbon footprint.
- More than three-quarters are looking to explore additional avenues for reducing energy consumption, such as downsizing existing city-centre office spaces or offering employees access to flexible workspaces.
- Working closer to home can slash carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent.
Just after Word Earth Day (22 April), the research highlights the role that organisations and businesses can play in reducing climate change issues with strategic adaptions. Earth Day is a global event that aims to highlight the importance of the environment and bring more awareness to the issues that threaten it.
Businesses across the world made statements about the environment and what they are doing to alleviate climate change issues. This research, however, highlights the impact that legitimate changes can have. It is possible for businesses to have a real impact, not just make pandering statements that lack substance.
Almost half of those surveyed (44 per cent) have reduced their traditional office space by a quarter (25 per cent), leading to reduced energy consumption and operational costs. A further 19 per cent have achieved even greater reductions, slashing office space by 26 per cent to 50 per cent.
A resounding 84 per cent said hybrid working has been key to the reduction of their company’s overall energy usage and carbon footprint, with even greater reduction predicted as 79 per cent of businesses said they intend to explore additional avenues for reducing energy consumption.
These additional avenues were things like downsizing their existing office spaces and facilitating access to flexible workspaces. When businesses make legitimate changes that positively affect the environment, they can galvanise their employees, who share that passion for the environment.
It’s also a two-birds-one-stone situation as an earlier IWG survey showed that more than half (56 per cent) of Australian hybrid workers agreed that they are likely to resign from their job in 2024 if they have a long commute into the office five days a week.
Mark Dixon, IWG chief executive, stated: “The global shift to hybrid working is not only bringing strong productivity and financial advantages to companies and work/life balance improvements to employees, but significant environmental benefits too. This latest research confirms that businesses that have adopted the hybrid model have already reduced their energy usage significantly.”
“The environmental benefits of hybrid working do not end there. By simply empowering people to work close to where they live, enabling them to split their time between a local workplace and home, earlier research by Arup has shown that this model has the potential to reduce a worker’s work-related carbon emissions by 90 per cent.”
Kace O'Neill
Kace O'Neill is a Graduate Journalist for HR Leader. Kace studied Media Communications and Maori studies at the University of Otago, he has a passion for sports and storytelling.
