4-day week, WFH eyed as shield from global oil shocks

European modelling has reinforced the pattern. Analysis by the Carbon Trust across several major economies suggests that hybrid working arrangements—where employees split their time between home and the office—can deliver substantial emissions cuts by reducing car travel and the energy used in office buildings. 

In Germany, one scenario found that widespread homeworking could save millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually, with much of that coming from lower fuel consumption as people commute less.

Conserving energy by WFH

On the business side, international experience also suggests that alternative work arrangements can help in conserving energy.

While most experiments with shorter work weeks and flexible arrangements have been framed around productivity and employee wellbeing, many have also delivered tangible energy savings in offices and on the roads.

In 2019, Microsoft Japan’s four‑day workweek trial saw productivity jump by about 40% compared to the previous year, The Guardian reported. Company documents from that pilot also reported marked reductions in office electricity consumption and paper use when offices were closed for an extra day each week.