All Stats Related To Cut In Greenhouse Gas Emission Due To WFH

Cut in greenhouse gas emission due to WFH has been nothing short of remarkable. This is significant considering how much of our daily lives are spent commuting to and from our jobs.

Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that trap heat and cause global warming. The largest source of such gases is burning fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, for energy production.

Cut In Greenhouse Gas Emission Due To WFH

Every year millions of tons of greenhouse gases get released into the atmosphere. These are from cars, trucks, trains, and planes used in everyday commuting.

As per the statistical report of the EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency:

Total U.S. emissions in 2020 were 5,981 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.

Carbon dioxide, methane, & nitrous oxide are the main gases involved in climate change. Some fluorinated gases also contribute to climate change.

The recent pandemic has caused an unprecedented energy consumption and transport composition shift. This is due to the implementation of remote working policies across the world. It has resulted in a significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions.

Causes Of Emission of CO2

The most significant source of carbon dioxide emissions is burning of fossil fuels. This means coal, oil, and natural gas used in power plants, factories, and automobiles.

When fossil fuels combust, they release carbon dioxide. It is a primary contributor to global warming.

Transportation:

Gasoline and diesel combustion has been biggest source of C02 emissions in 2020. That makes up:

– 33% of the total U.S. CO2 emission

– 26% of the total U.S. greenhouse emissions

Electricity:

The second biggest carbon dioxide emission in 2020 was electricity. It accounted for

– 31% of the total U.S. CO2 emissions

– 24% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Industry Sector:

The third biggest carbon dioxide emission in 2020 was from industrial processes. It accounts for:

– 16% of the total U.S. CO2 emissions

– 13% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

This emission is from industrial work of cement, steel, oil and gas, aluminum, etc.

U.S. Greenhouse Emissions By Economic Sector

The transport sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

It accounted for 27% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

Other sectors in economics that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions are:

– Agriculture

– Industry

– Electricity Generation

– Residential

– Commercial

The introduction of working-from-home (WFH) policies has impacted these sectors significantly.

Is Working From Home Convenient?

Yes, working from home is convenient. It has been observed that employees tend to be more productive when they work from home.

A lot of professions in the U.S. are based on information. Therefore, almost 35% of all jobs can be remote.

Employees can have a peaceful environment and also take regular breaks whenever needed.

Not having to commute to the office reduces stress levels. It improves the overall quality of life and mental health.

Furthermore, working from home provides more flexibility in terms of scheduling. And it also allows employees to balance their work and family more efficiently.

Work From Home In Covid 19 Statistics

As per a Statista survey, number of people working from home has increased. The number of people working from home five days a week has been 44% after the pandemic compared to 17% before the pandemic.

Also, the number of people working from home 3-4 days a week has been 9% after the pandemic compared to 7% before the pandemic.

The number of people working from home 1-2 days a week has been 6% after the pandemic compared to 10% before the pandemic.

Quick Stats:

Let’s look at some quick statistics:

– Before Covid, 7.9% of the global workforce worked from home regularly (State of Remote Work)

– Post Covid, 41% of the global workforce works from home (State of Remote Work)

– The total hours saved by not having to commute in a year was 408

– As per Global Workplace Analytics, number of people working from home since 2009 increased by 156%

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– As per a Stanford study, working from home increases productivity by 13%

– Organizations with the policy of WFH observe a 25% lesser employee turnover rate. (Employee Benefit News)

– As per Founderjar, if people worked from home, they could save 54 million tons of greenhouse gas emission

– As per the average annual income of an employee in the U.S., an average employee can save up to $4000 by working from home and not commuting to work

– Business Because states 53% of Americans have been stressed due to Covid-19. But working from home has been good for their health.

City-Wise Gain Of Time Back With WFH

A car company, the CoPilot, researched on time-saving in various cities. The research showed the following city-wise benefit with WFH for their employees:

– Chicago – 13.1% of time back per day with WFH

– New York City – 15.2% of time back per day with WFH

– Los Angeles – 12.4% of time back per day with WFH

– Philadelphia – 13% of time back per day with WFH

– Oakland – 12.6% of time back per day with WFH

Less Paper Usage & Cut In Greenhouse Gas Emission

The University of Southern Indiana and the American Forest and Paper Association researched as follows:

– Americans use 85 million tons of paper annually, making 680 pounds per person.

– On average, one American uses seven whole trees worth of paper annually.

Cutting trees to make paper contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

With the rise of remote working options, organizations developed a paperless solution. It helped save trees and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

With remote work options, there is no need to go through countless documents on paper. It reduces paper usage drastically.

WFH culture enabled employees to print documents only when necessary. It reduces paper usage and helps the environment.

Even one tree saved can remove up to 14.7 pounds of CO2 from the air. This reduced CO2 output can help mitigate global warming and climate change.

Eco-Friendly Meals & Cut In Greenhouse Gas Emission

The remote working culture has also reduced the need for employees to go out for restaurants.

It helps them save time, energy, and money. It led to reduced carbon emissions from cars and transportation needed to commute.

In addition, employees can now cook at home using organic ingredients. It reduces the carbon footprint of meals compared to pre-packaged and processed food.

Cattle production contributes to 14.5% of greenhouse gases emission. Meat production adds up to 18% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

America adds up to 3 times more greenhouse gases emission due to meat production than anywhere in the world.

Organic farming does not use artificial fertilizers or toxic pesticides. Thus, this helps reduce the amount of carbon emitted per crop.

Remote working has encouraged employees to adopt eco-friendly practices like organic meal preparation.

It helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promotes a cleaner environment.

Less Plastic Usage & Recycling With Cut In Greenhouse Gas Emission

Working from home has also reduced the use of plastic bottles and containers. With remote working, employees can access filtered water from their homes.

This helps reduce plastic consumption and contributes towards curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Plastic Oceans International estimates the production of 300 million tons of plastic annually worldwide. 50% of this plastic is not recycled and ends up in landfills or the ocean.

Regular recycling of plastic materials is also important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, recycled plastic can reduce total energy consumption by:

– 79% for PET resins

– 88% for HDPE resins

– 88% for PP resins

Office Energy Use Vs. Home Energy Use

Regarding reducing energy use, WFH is more efficient than going to the office.

Almost half of the energy is used at home than in the office. And this energy consumption results in more greenhouse gas emissions.

Working remotely helps reduce the potential environmental hazards associated with office work. It can also lead to better physical health for employees.

Final Word:

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to adopt remote work practices. It can positively impact the environment.

Working from home helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. This creates a healthier environment for all of us!

WFH also provides employees with more flexibility and freedom in their lives.

Remote work is a sustainable solution to the challenges of modern life.

Encourage and support remote work in your organization. And you can help bring about a healthier planet for everyone.

Last Updated on 6 months by Aleena