The climate crisis is a reality - tangible, visible, measurable. Whether heatwaves, floods or droughts: the effects have long since affected our everyday lives. It is also clear that we all have a role to play: States, companies, individuals. Our working methods are also increasingly coming into focus. After all, how, where and how often we work has a direct impact on our ecological footprint.
The daily commute to the office in particular is one of the biggest, often overlooked sources of emissions. Millions of commuters travel to the city center by car every day. Office buildings also consume enormous amounts of energy. But there are alternatives: Hybrid working, a mixture of working from home and close to home, is not only flexible, but also a concrete lever for more climate protection.
In this article, we show you how a hybrid working model helps to avoid CO₂ - and why it's not just about the environment, but also about quality of life.
What does hybrid working mean - and why is it more than just working from home?
Hybrid working describes the combination of working from home and working in external spaces, such as an office or coworking space. It's not just about the location, but also about more flexibility and personal responsibility in everyday working life.
In contrast to the pure home office, the hybrid model allows work locations to be chosen specifically according to tasks and needs: concentrated work at home, creative exchange in the team on site or the productive interim route in the flexible workspace around the corner.
This combination not only offers convenience, but also an often underestimated climate potential. After all, commuting less saves energy - and reducing office space further lowers CO₂ emissions. Hybrid working is therefore not only an organizational advance, but also a contribution to climate protection.
Saving CO₂ in everyday life: why commuting is so important
A significant proportion of work-related CO₂ emissions are caused by daily commuting, especially by car. For many, commuting to work is not only a time waster, but also a climate killer. Regular commuting to the office generates several hundred kilograms of CO₂ every year - depending on the means of transport and distance.
Take a car with a combustion engine, for example: if you drive 20 kilometers to work every day (outward and return journey: 40 km), you generate around 832 kilograms of CO₂ per year.
Hybrid working noticeably reduces your ecological footprint: fewer daily journeys mean significantly lower CO₂ emissions. The effect is particularly effective if, in addition to working from home, you head for alternatives close to home instead of the distant company headquarters - such as coworking spaces.
Do you want to reduce emissions and are looking for a coworking space that is not far from your home? Discover our 15 locations across Europe and find the right office club near you.
Another alternative is satellite offices , which more and more companies are operating. These are smaller office locations that are physically separate from the head office - usually in the immediate vicinity of employees' homes. They enable decentralized working with the company infrastructure without the need to commute to the head office.
According to studies, this so-called "close-to-home" model - i.e. the combination of working from home and in nearby, flexible work locations - has the greatest savings potential. In some cities, up to 90% of work-related emissions can be avoided. The biggest lever: eliminating or significantly shortening commutes by car.
More efficient office space - less space, fewer emissions
Not only the commute to work, but also the office itself is a significant factor in CO₂ emissions. Heating, air conditioning, lighting, technical infrastructure: office buildings consume enormous amounts of energy, often regardless of how much they are actually used.
Hybrid working is fundamentally changing this fact. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many companies have significantly reduced their space or used it more efficiently in recent years. The effect: less energy consumption, lower fixed costs, lower emissions. Flexible workspaces close to home are doing particularly well here. They are often better utilized than large inner-city offices and therefore consume less energy per person.
The type of building also plays a role. New, energy-efficient workplaces and measures such as motion detectors, LED technology or smart heating systems also contribute to CO₂ reduction.
Sustainability as part of Office Club's location strategy
Sustainability also plays a central role in the planning and realization of new Office Club locations - from the choice of materials to the energy supply. This is not just about reducing the ecological footprint, but also about durable, resource-saving solutions in ongoing operations.
One example is the new location in Stuttgart. Energy-efficient technologies are used here, as are selected materials with environmental benefits. For example, a carpet was laid that consists of bio-based materials and recycled fillers - and is therefore not only durable, but also binds carbon instead of releasing it. This makes Office Club one of the first providers in the coworking and business center sector to use CO₂-negative flooring.
More than just climate protection: hybrid working also improves quality of life and equal opportunities
The environmental benefits of hybrid working models are clear - but the advantages go far beyond that. If you commute less, you gain time. This not only reduces stress levels, but also increases productivity.
Hybrid working also improves the work-life balance - a key factor for many parents, carers and people with limited mobility. If the workplace is no longer automatically tied to a fixed location, the opportunities for equal participation increase.
There is also potential in terms of gender equality: studies suggest that flexible working models benefit women more, as they are more likely to have family responsibilities. At the same time, hybrid working opens up new access to the labor market - for people in rural areas, for example, who were previously excluded due to long commutes.
And last but not least, hybrid working contributes to mental health. Less travel time, more self-determination and a better balance between work and private life have a positive effect on well-being - an aspect that companies are increasingly taking seriously in the competition for talent.
Is switching off after work a challenge for you? Our article on coping with stress has specific tips: These three relaxation techniques will help you switch off.
Conclusion: hybrid working as part of the solution
The way we work has a direct impact on our environment. Hybrid working offers a concrete, everyday way to reduce CO₂ emissions without sacrificing comfort or productivity. Less commuting, more efficient office space and flexible working models lead to measurable savings - both ecologically and economically.
Of course, this requires suitable structures, trust in independent working and offers close to home such as coworking spaces or regional offices. But the journey is worth it. Hybrid working is not a short-term trend - it is a central building block for a more sustainable working world.
Whether as a supplement to working from home or as a workplace close to home: with the flexible coworking solutions from Office Club, you can make hybrid working efficient, professional - and climate-friendly!
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