Working in the office or from home – which consumes more CO₂? This is the very question answered by an American study that examined the emissions balance of in-person and remote work. The results continue to raise the question: How can greenhouse gas consumption be reduced in the long term?

Balancing electricity savings and travel

For the sustainability study, a research team from Cornell University collaborated with Microsoft, utilizing data sets from the corporate giant. The analysis revealed that those working exclusively from home save up to 54 % in greenhouse gases compared to their office counterparts. Hybrid work only offered a slight advantage, with a maximum savings rate of 29 % for two to four days of remote work per week.

Where does the high consumption in the office come from? According to the study, it is not the office IT or communication technology that’s responsible, but measures such as heating or cooling the premises with air conditioning. Commuting to the office is also included in the statistics.

However, Cornell and Microsoft highlight that remote work is not necessarily the key to a sustainable future. Because those who work exclusively remotely or from home tend to travel more or are often on airplanes, as the study shows. Additionally, devices like home printers, for example, tend to consume more electricity on average compared to larger office versions.

This emissions balance is also expected in the German-speaking region. While the data for the study comes from the United States, according to the researchers, the results can be applicable to Europe and Japan as well.

Reducing emissions with smart spaces

Cornell and Microsoft show that when it comes to long-term sustainability, the work arrangement is not the sole solution, as private and business-related CO₂ consumption balances out. So, how can companies contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

The answer lies in the space: Companies and corporations need to assess how much CO₂ they consume and which aspects of their daily operations are responsible for it. In the second step, the company’s or employees’ work arrangement is considered: Who works when in the office, who is in the home office? For office spaces structured around fixed workstations, this means that on home office days, not all rooms are fully occupied, creating free spaces.

At this point, software programs like ReCoTech provide valuable support: Through occupancy analyses, companies determine how spaces are used. With automated calculations, an optimal space structure can then be created, considering individual work processes. Simultaneously, the software uncovers potential savings in terms of space, allowing for downsizing or office space reduction. This not only reduces CO₂ consumption but also lowers operational costs.

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The importance of sustainability in businesses is gaining increasing attention – not only from the general public but also from employees. This is the conclusion of a recent study by HEUTE UND MORGEN: The market researchers urge companies to involve their employees early in initiatives and to give greater consideration to their ideas.

Employees prefer sustainability-oriented employers

The new study, “Sustainability of companies from an employee perspective – status quo, potentials, and perspectives”, reveals that 74 % of German employees welcome their employer’s commitment to sustainability. For 40 % of respondents, sustainability in the workplace holds personal significance.

These figures result from the work of Julia Nachtsheim and her market research team at HEUTE UND MORGEN. For the representative trend study, they surveyed 1,000 employees and executives in companies with a minimum size of five employees.

Further insights include: Employees who believe their company is already acting sustainably exhibit higher loyalty to their employer. This aligns with the statement that more than one in four employees in Germany (28 %) cannot envision working for a company that does not pursue sustainability goals.

“Sustainability is evolving in an organizational perspective from a nice-to-have to an indispensable hygiene factor and must-have,” says study leader Julia Nachtsheim. “Companies that understand and embrace this beyond mandatory regulations can secure crucial competitive advantages in the fiercely contested talent market.”

Challenges and potentials of sustainability in the workplace

Despite the increasing importance of sustainability in companies, there is still room for improvement: 28 % of respondents feel that their employer has been insufficiently committed to sustainability. Only 19 % of companies prioritize sustainability, while 41 % indicate that there are more pressing issues.

Interestingly, most employees are less concerned about the specific area of sustainability their company is involved in. What matters more is that the commitment is transparent and proactive. Here, passive measures play a lesser role compared to active efforts.

Becoming sustainable through space optimization

Companies take various steps to become more sustainable. One crucial task is to assess the efficiency of office space: Are the available rooms optimally utilized? Is there still a need for space-intensive individual offices? Which types of spaces support work processes?

Through analysis, it is possible to uncover potential space savings and accommodate optimized structures in a smaller area. This allows companies to relinquish space, resulting in cost savings and an improved carbon footprint.

Tools and software programs like ReCoTech support this initiative by using algorithms to calculate the optimal office structure. At the same time, manual parameters such as individual work processes can be taken into account. The solution promotes communication between executives and the workforce: Employees can communicate which room systems already work in their daily activities, and this feedback then forms the basis for the software calculations. Sustainability thus becomes an active collaboration involving all levels of the company.

Since 1965, Siemens has been inseparably linked to Erlangen: The global company opened a vast research campus in the southern part of the city, driving numerous innovations. Now, the entire area is being transformed into an open meeting place in line with the principles of New Work.

A new district for Erlangen

The individual is at the center: a core concept of modern work. Siemens embraced this principle in 2013 when announcing the redevelopment of the old research campus. The goal was to create a new office and living structure, transforming the area into an attractive, open district in Erlangen. Previously accessible only to “Siemensians”, the old site is now slated to become a campus by 2030, uniting quality of life with productive work.

The architectural competition at that time, forming the basis for the project, was won by the Frankfurt-based architectural firm KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten. The Siemens Campus was divided into eight modules in the planning phase, to be completed sequentially. The groundbreaking took place in December 2016, and employees have already moved into Module 1.

Working amidst gastronomy and green spaces

The campus concept is groundbreaking and sets new standards: The site follows a block structure with extensive greenery and preserved old pine trees as a connecting element. Ground floor levels of the buildings are designated for restaurants, cafes, services, and retail, while office complexes begin from the first floor. This idea has a significant impact: Not only does the campus have the potential to become a popular district for all residents of Erlangen, but Siemens employees also find themselves in a workplace located in an area with high quality of life.

The architectural design also seizes this opportunity and opts for glass: Employees enjoy views either into a green courtyard or a boulevard. The spaces themselves are a prime example of New Work design with versatile zoning (including Think Tanks), a clean desk policy, comfortable lounges, and state-of-the-art acoustics that effectively dampen noise, promoting quiet focused work.

Building sustainably for the jobs of tomorrow

Resource-efficient construction is a top priority for Siemens. Even during the conceptualization, emphasis was placed on acting sustainably and designing buildings that enable carbon-neutral operations. Thus, the Siemens Campus takes a pioneering role when it comes to future-oriented architecture and its implementation.

The ongoing construction process of the Siemens Campus in Erlangen is therefore an intriguing New Work topic, proving that smart ideas in the building sector shape the future of work.

Source: Siemens

Image source: Siemens AG, Munich/Berlin

From home office back to the office? Since the end of the Corona lockdowns, it is clear that remote work has become permanently established in German companies. More and more firms are adapting to this trend: On one hand, they make efforts to bring employees back to the office more frequently – whether through incentives or clear guidelines. On the other hand, they are reducing office spaces by shortening leases, consolidating locations, or forgoing new office properties. This trend is intensifying, as a recent ifo survey indicates.

Three times more remote work than before the pandemic

In the modern work environment, Simon Krause is convinced that remote work has become a permanently integral part. “About a quarter of employees work regularly from home,” says the ifo expert. Especially Mondays and Fridays are popular days to work from home or any other location outside the office. The trend towards mobile work is unbroken.

This is also supported by the current figures from his institute: A business survey by the Munich-based research institution ifo revealed that currently, 12.3 % of all office workplaces on an average weekday are not occupied due to remote work. For comparison, in 2019 – pre-pandemic – it was only 4.6 %. “The proportion of unused workplaces in offices has thus tripled,” says Krause.

IT and advertising sectors embrace remote work frequently

But these numbers are not evenly distributed across all sectors: In the service sector, the percentage increased significantly from 6.2 % to 16.8 %. Especially in IT professions, market research and advertising, consulting, and the pharmaceutical industry, there are many jobs that are not physically occupied.

The upward trend is also observed in other sectors such as manufacturing, trade, or the construction industry, though to a much lesser extent.

Altered needs for office spaces

The trend toward remote work has implications for both companies and the real estate market. “Some companies,” says Simon Krause, “are converting vacant offices into coworking spaces to facilitate more personal interaction on the days of physical presence. Other companies are reducing their space requirements to cut costs for unused offices.”

Robert Vesely from the real estate association IVD also sees altered needs for office buildings to make them appealing to companies. The Magdeburg-based entrepreneur emphasizes that, in this context, both digital infrastructure and a redesign of the spaces are crucial. This is to ensure that, for example, multiple teleconferences in one room do not become an acoustic issue. Property owners have already recognized this necessity and are investing accordingly.

Smart solutions for companies

For companies grappling with how to cost-effectively and energy-efficiently utilize their office spaces in light of the remote work trend, smart solutions are available. The Company ReCoTech has developed a space optimization tool to digitally determine the actual need for required office spaces. Whether it’s consolidating spaces or making changes in usage, such as desk-sharing, the tool reveals the full potential of office buildings.

Additionally, for booking shared workspaces, ReCoTech offers a workplace booking app. It accompanies employees throughout the workday, remembers their work preferences, and can automatically handle resource bookings as desired.

The state of Baden-Württemberg has launched an important initiative to support local authorities in saving space. The campaign aims to promote the efficient use of land and strengthen inner-city development.

The Baden-Württemberg initiative: Reducing space together

The state cabinet has approved the proposals of the Minister for State Development and Housing, Nicole Razavi, and has initiated an action plan for saving land. The planned measures include:

• Development of a concept for a new unsealing premium
• Initiation of model projects for efficient land reactivation and renaturation
• Creation of a digital overview of brownfield sites in the country
• Promotion of land managers in the commercial sector

Nicole Razavi emphasized that saving land is a joint task and that everyone involved must make their contribution. An expert opinion is to clarify which instruments are suitable for reducing land – the first results are expected in fall 2023 (source: press release from the state of Baden-Württemberg).

In this context, the optimization of office space also plays an important role. Companies such as ReCoTech, which specializes in precisely this area, can make a valuable contribution here. To this end, ReCoTech offers a globally unique IT-supported solution for space and occupancy planning of office space: This gives companies the opportunity to subject existing premises and their use to an audit and have potential space savings calculated – an approach that fits in well with the general objective of the state initiative.

Creating synergies with shared goals

Both approaches, the state initiative and ReCoTech’s services, pursue the same goal: efficient use of space for a resource-saving future. By combining both perspectives, sustainable and efficient solutions for land use can be developed. This results in food for thought such as the following:

1. What would collaboration between state initiatives and companies such as ReCoTech look like to promote land efficiency?
2. Could the technologies developed by ReCoTech also be applied in other areas, such as industrial estates?
3. How can the findings from ReCoTech’s space and occupancy planning be integrated into the state’s plans for space optimization?

The initiative of the state of Baden-Württemberg and the products of ReCoTech show that efficient land use is a task that affects a wide variety of areas and levels simultaneously. Cooperation would combine the economic and governmental perspectives and promise one thing above all: productive progress.

The pandemic has permanently changed the world of work. A survey by real estate consultants Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) and CoreNet Global, among others, now shows the precise impact on the field of commercial space: The study examined the perspective of commercial real estate tenants worldwide and provided clear results on what the office of tomorrow will look like.

Innovative progress in old spaces?

Around 89 % of tenants agree: The office has lost its unique selling point as a place for productive work. After all, the pandemic has shown that the majority of office jobs can also be done from home. Instead, corporate spaces are taking on a new role: They are a place for efficient meetings. The modern office is used to promote creative exchange, drive innovation or get to know team members as well as customers in person.

An essential part of this change is the dissolution of the individual office: According to C&W and CoreNet Global, the number of shared office spaces has doubled compared to pre-pandemic times. However, many companies are still struggling with the actual implementation, as David Smith, Head of Americas Insights and Global Research at C&W, explains: “The purpose of the office is changing, but tenants have not yet fully adapted to the new way of working.”

New office concept for a sustainable future

However, it is not just the specific use of space that is an important criterion for tenants: Many companies place a high value on ESG and have formulated corresponding sustainability goals. Added to this is the cost factor, which is influenced by current inflation. A sustainable office must therefore consume as little CO₂ as possible on the one hand, and on the other hand it is necessary to check how much space a company actually needs.

Companies such as ReCoTech have specialized in this issue – with the help of digital tools for area planning and optimization, the service provider supports facility managers and CEOs in analyzing the available space and adapting it to work processes. At the same time, it is possible to identify whether there is surplus space following a restructuring.

“If you don’t have an overview of how available office space is being used, you pay for it – because every empty square meter costs rent and increases the carbon footprint. Smart solutions for space optimization therefore make potential savings visible. Combined with a workplace booking assistant, the utilization of the space can be checked,” explains Manuel Panzirsch, CEO of ReCoTech.

It’s an exciting time for us at ReCoTech GmbH. The recent “Employer of the Future” award has once again shown us that our efforts to be a forward-thinking and innovative company are not going unnoticed. This recognition is not only a testament to our achievements to date, but also an incentive for the future.

The award, which is presented by the German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalization in cooperation with DUP UNTERNEHMER magazine, is a sign that companies like ours that continuously develop and adapt can make a difference in today’s business world. It is a confirmation that our vision and values are recognized by industry experts and peers.

Manuel Panzirsch, our CEO, emphasized the importance of this recognition for our team: “This award is a sign that our efforts to bring ReCoTech to the forefront of the industry are bearing fruit. It is a team effort and I thank each and every member of our team for their contribution.”

In recent years, we at ReCoTech have made significant investments in technology, training and corporate culture. We firmly believe that a company is only as strong as its employees. Therefore, we have focused on creating an environment where our employees feel valued, can develop their skills and are motivated to do their best.

The technology industry is known for its fast pace and constant change. To be successful in this environment, you have to be willing to adapt, learn and grow. At ReCoTech, we have created a culture of learning and innovation. We encourage our employees to learn new skills, take on challenges and think outside the box. This has not only helped us grow as a company, but has also led to many of our employees becoming industry leaders in their respective fields.

For us, sustainability does not just mean using the latest technologies or having the most efficient processes. It also means planning ahead, managing risks and seizing opportunities when they arise. It means having a vision for the future and a plan to get there.

Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our success – our employees, partners, customers and the community at large. This award may have been given to ReCoTech, but it belongs to all of us. We look forward to continuing to set the standard in our industry and are excited about the challenges and opportunities the future holds for us.

Electric cars are an important step on the road to sustainable mobility: The electricity they require can be generated from renewable energy sources and is low in emissions. For this reason, more and more people in Germany are opting for an electric car – and using it to commute to the office. However, many company parking lots are only equipped with a limited number of charging stations. Facility managers are faced with a major challenge here: How can the growing number of e-cars be accommodated if there are not enough wall boxes available?

Meeting the change with a systematic approach

Last year, new registrations of electric cars reached a record high: Around 470,559 new electric cars rolled onto Germany’s roads for the first time in 2022. Many of them find their way to company buildings, offices, etc. to park in the parking lot during working hours. Many companies are therefore adding wallboxes to their infrastructure so that employees can charge their vehicles.

In the private and commercial sectors, the initial results look quite good: There is now one charging station for every electric car in Germany. However, there are also around 865,000 plug-in hybrids registered, which have both a combustion engine and an electric motor.

On average, this means that there are more vehicles that need a charging station than there are wallboxes. Company parking lots in particular are dependent on an intelligent system so that all drivers of electric cars have the opportunity to charge their vehicle during working hours. One possible solution for facility managers is therefore a smart booking assistant: They support resource planning in order to organize the use of charging stations and make it fair and transparent.

Smart tools for the mobility transition

Booking solutions for parking spaces work like programs that employees use to reserve their workplace in the office: Instead of individual rooms and office spaces, a plan for the parking lot is now created in the software – including all available wallboxes.

Employees then use the app to book a charging station for a specific period of time. This ensures that everyone can connect their own vehicle to the wallbox once a day – similar to desk sharing in the office. At the same time, the booking assistant serves as a monitoring device: Facility managers and building managers can use the software data to evaluate whether the number of charging stations is sufficient or whether additional wallboxes are required.

ReCoTech’s smart solution for workplace and resource booking can be used for precisely this purpose: Once the parking space has been registered by the tool, all employees with an electric car can book a charging period via mobile device – very easily from home. In this way, ReCoTech supports companies in making a contribution to sustainable mobility.

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A hotly debated topic in many offices: The “Desk Sharing Concept” offers companies a good opportunity to use office buildings or office units effectively and to structure work processes sensibly. To ensure that all this works, it is important to support employees before and during the introduction of the flexible workplace method – and to take a few tips to heart.

Desk sharing concept as an opportunity

The pandemic has changed many things: In more and more office facilities, often not all desks are occupied, as team members are at conferences, in the home office or on business trips. Desk sharing is an effective method for companies to counter empty desks and make sensible use of office space. The idea behind it: Employees choose their workplace freely and flexibly in order to establish better use of space and save costs for rent, investments and cleaning.

The same applies to both large and small companies: Without appropriate pre-planning, the implementation of the desk sharing concept can quickly end in chaos. It’s not just organizational details that need to be considered: Above all, it is important to introduce the workforce to the topic at an early stage, work out the arguments in favor of the method and maintain an open and data-based communication strategy.

How the desk sharing concept works for you and your team

The entrepreneur and Managing Director of the personnel service provider AVANTGARDE Expert, Philipp Riedel, has already introduced the desk sharing concept for his staff. In his view, it is a great advantage for the team “that desk sharing breaks down hierarchical thinking and enables flexible working”.

The following tips help employers to break down traditional seating arrangements in the office and increase employee satisfaction:

1. Communication is key: It is crucial to communicate the plans for the desk sharing concept extensively within the team. Managers should take concerns seriously in order to understand possible disadvantages and build trust. At the same time, it helps to emphasize the advantages of this form of organization – such as more freedom and agility.
2. Gradual changeover: Instead of changing the system from one day to the next, it is advisable to do this gradually. Start with desk sharing in one department to gain experience and avoid mistakes.
3. Data protection: Clarify questions about data protection in good time, especially for employees who work with sensitive data.
4. Introduce a clean desk policy: For a smooth desk sharing system, it is important that employees leave their desks tidy every day. Regular cleaning of the workplace is also mandatory for reasons of hygiene.
5. Identical basic equipment of desks: Basic installed equipment for each desk makes it easier to set up the workplace. Ideally, each desk should be equipped with a screen, keyboard and docking station. A personal headset should be provided for the team for reasons of hygiene.
6. Visual inspection or booking: There are two methods for the shared desk system – either employees choose their workstation in the morning by visual inspection or it is booked in advance. The booking method enables better planning and can be carried out digitally or by a contact person.

Personalized and smart: ReCoTech’s workplace booking is an intuitive tool that makes it easy to implement bookings for workstations, home offices, etc.

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