What is Working From Home Emissions?
Carbon emissions from employees working remotely, including home energy use and equipment. While WFH reduces commuting emissions, it can increase household energy consumption.
Why it matters
As hybrid working becomes permanent, companies need to account for WFH emissions in their Scope 3 reporting. The GHG Protocol's updated guidance includes methodologies for estimating home-based emissions, and reviewers increasingly expect to see them.
Example
A digital agency with 60 remote employees estimates WFH emissions at 0.3 tCO₂e per person per year based on average UK home energy factors. The total 18 tCO₂e is included as a Scope 3 Category 7 line item.
Related terms
Employee Commuting
Carbon emissions from employees travelling between home and work. Employee commuting is a Scope 3 category that can be addressed through remote working, cycling schemes, and public transport incentives.
Scope 3 Emissions
All other indirect emissions occurring in an organisation's value chain, both upstream and downstream. Scope 3 typically represents 70-90% of a company's total carbon footprint and includes emissions from suppliers, business travel, employee commuting, and product use.
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