A recent study shows that, when workspace occupancy levels are taken into account, conventionally leased offices produce three times more carbon emissions than flexible workspaces.
Environmental, social and governance policies have become essential to a company’s long-term success. There are many ways to address environmental challenges, and adopting flexible offices is one of them. These spaces can offer significant energy savings.
According to a recent analysis by Incendium Consulting, a consultancy owned by The Instant Group, flexible workspaces can substantially reduce a company’s carbon emissions. The consultancy analyzed data collected from 100 flexible and traditionally leased offices.
When assessed by floor area, flexible workspaces can actually be twice as carbon-intensive as traditional offices. However, when occupancy levels are taken into account, conventionally leased offices emit three times more carbon than flexible spaces.
The data revealed that average emissions from flexible spaces were 11 units of CO₂ per square meter. By comparison, traditional offices emitted an average of 49 units of CO₂ per square meter.
The research suggests that the way carbon emissions are measured is inaccurate. Floor area alone does not provide a meaningful picture of the environmental impact of commercial offices. It is particularly important to consider how much office space is actually being used. In this respect, flexible offices offer clear energy-saving advantages.
According to Sam Pickering, Director of Incendium Consulting: “Focusing on occupancy as a measure provides a more accurate reflection of how offices are used today. In other words, flexible offices have a clear advantage when it comes to emissions.”
According to the engineering association CIBSE, each unused office space accounts for approximately one tonne of wasted carbon dioxide emissions every year. Taking occupancy into account should enable companies to align their office space with their actual needs, significantly reducing their carbon footprint and addressing major inefficiencies.
“The amount of carbon wasted through the underuse of offices is becoming a major problem for the workspace sector,” Pickering says.
However, he adds: “The sector is taking a number of meaningful steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it must first address the challenges presented by current market conditions.”
Measuring emissions according to occupancy rates could have a considerable impact on the workspace sector, helping it significantly reduce its carbon footprint. This represents an important step toward the ambitious global goal of carbon neutrality.