The verb telework has become synonymous with many positive aspects since Covid-19 made working from home commonplace overnight. As well as saving money for the employee - who most often benefits from a teleworking allowance- teleworking brings benefits to companies if it is aligned with their ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) philosophy and is a magnet for attracting talent. However, it is worth bearing in mind that being at home consumes the most energy, so pay attention to some tips to make teleworking 100% efficient.
Establishing a regular workspace at home requires that the chosen environment be quiet and without distractions, but it should also be bright and warm. Why? In order to save energy. To this end, maximum use should be made of natural light and a favourable location in the home to make the most of it and avoid surprises on the electricity bill.
For teleworking, the use of technology is essential, so it is advisable to limit its use to the limits necessary to save energy. For this purpose, devices must be turned off when not in use. This will prevent phantom consumption, a silent consumption of suspended appliances that can account for up to 11% of the electricity bill. It is also advisable to have energy-saving light bulbs in the workspace and at home, an initial investment that will minimise future lighting consumption.
While in summer air conditioning is more than necessary in hot climates, in winter, heating is key to making teleworking comfortable. Both forms of heating and cooling are increasingly energy-intensive nowadays, so it is advisable to use them rationally in order to save energy. While in summer you can choose to operate fans, which consume up to 90% less energy, in winter it is advisable to take advantage of some of the teleworking hours to turn the heating on; it is not necessary to have it on all day.
Moving the office to home implies carrying the equipment and work materials, but also the ways of working. Just as we try to use as little paper as possible in the office, we should follow this maxim at home and use only what is essential. To this end, it should be noted that the technology used will help a lot: notes can be taken directly on the computer, and the bulk of documentation and contracts, handled on a daily basis, can be managed thanks to specialised software such as CLM, which avoids printing hundreds or even thousands of pages of paper being printed out per person.
Working in the office is advisable for building good communication with colleagues or to disconnect from teleworking at home, but it should be noted that telecommuting saves significant money on transport costs from week to week. Therefore, if you want to go to the office, it is advisable to set specific days to visit the office and make the most of them to dedicate them to the tasks that require the most interaction with others and with the rest of the departments, those that are more creative.
Applying partial or full teleworking in a company can be considered a measure following the ESG philosophy since, in addition to contributing to considerable energy savings for companies, it also allows greater flexibility for employees.
The study by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions explains that, if companies take specific and aligned measures, teleworking is an energy-saving and sustainable measure.