Study finds remote work has climate benefits as federal workers fight office mandate [Video]

Federal public servants in Ottawa who work remotely contributed 25 per cent fewer emissions than those who worked only from the office, a new report suggests as a major public sector union fights against more mandated office days.

Remote workers in Quebec contributed even fewer emissions thanks largely to greener homes heated by electric baseboards rather than natural gas, and the province’s virtually all-renewable energy grid, the report said.

The report funded by the federal government is based on surveys of roughly 1,500 employees across three government offices and it looks at emissions from homes, offices, transportation and internet use.

The analysis suggests each additional weekday a hybrid employee in the National Capital Region worked remotely is associated with annual emissions reductions between about 235 and 350 kilograms of carbon emissions, roughly equivalent to burning 150 litres of gasoline.

Those savings are largely attributed to lower transportation emissions from commuting …