A recent study conducted by researchers from Purdue, Yale, and MIT links the pandemic-driven shift to remote work higher greenhouse gas emissions driven by computer videoconferencing. Despite this new demand on the electricity grid, some evidence suggests the environmental benefits of turning off those cameras may not outweigh the health costs, and the associated emissions from videoconferencing could be negligible.
The Purdue/Yale/MIT study found that one hour of videoconferencing emits 150-1,000 grams of carbon dioxide and turning off cameras could reduce emissions from web calls by 96 percent. For perspective, the average per-capita carbon emissions in the United States is 15 metric tons per year, or 42,471 grams per person per day.
Although the emissions from videoconferencing are not insubstantial, remote work has been shown to save energy and reduce emissions. A 2020 analysis from the International Energy Agency found that working from home is likely to reduce the carbon footprint of commuters who drive gasoline-powered cars more than 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) to work by nearly 40,000 grams CO2 per day—that’s a savings of 5,000 grams CO2 per hour in a typical work day. For those with shorter commutes, or commutes involving public transit, however, remote work may increase emissions due to extra residential energy consumption. Depending on the carbon intensity of the commute, emissions savings from remote work likely outweigh extra emissions from video calls.
Together, working remotely and eliminating videoconferencing could reduce emissions even further, but could result in unintended consequences. A letter published by Harvard Medical School argued that videoconferencing has a role in combatting the “life-threatening consequences” of loneliness and isolation. Although there is not enough evidence to prove that people will feel less lonely or isolated due to video calls, doctors at Harvard Medical School believe there is an emotional benefit to sharing meaningful conversations face-to-face, even if done virtually.
