The analysis of information and communication technologies, commuter and non-commuter travel, as well as workplace and home energy use, led the researchers to this conclusion. They evaluated data using the Residential Energy Consumption Survey from the US Energy Information Administration and employee travel and work-from-home patterns from Microsoft. Because several of the researchers were Microsoft workers themselves, it should be mentioned that the company's employee data was utilised.
Completely switching to remote work resulted in a 58% reduction in carbon footprint, with non-commute travel and office energy use playing the two biggest roles. It shouldn't be shocking that office buildings use such excessive quantities of energy. Without significantly cutting in-person work hours, a company that uses renewable energy to power its offices and offers employees environmentally friendly transportation options, like electric shuttles, might significantly reduce its carbon footprint. The difference between emissions from remote work and emissions from in-person employment may close if more environmentally friendly transportation options become available.