Sustainability while working remotely 

Here are five tips for upping your working from home sustainability game!  

Tip #1: Save carbon 

Use ctrl+shift+P to blur your background during Teams calls to reduce the call’s energy use and to help with bandwidth issues. Also make sure that you are using the optimal energy saving settings on your computer.  

Tip #2: Make a sustainability pledge  

Small changes, such as switching to a green energy provider or trying vegetarian recipes, can have a powerful collective impact. Websites like “Do Nation” offer ideas for sustainable actions that can be done at home. Pledge with others in your teams to adopt a practice and check in to celebrate each other’s progress.  

Tip #3: Improve your skills online  

Have you always wanted to know more about sustainability, but never found the time? Maybe now is the right moment to do an online course or learn a new skill. Check online learning sites such as FutureLearn, OpenLearn, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning to find the right course for you. 

Tip #4: Re-connect with nature:  

Much of our day is spent looking at screens, so a walk outside can be restorative. If time indoors is more feasible, rest your eyes on the world outside your window. You might even invite nature inside by doing some indoor gardening. Whichever way you choose to engage with nature, plants have been shown to increase wellbeing and productivity, so surrounding yourself with greenery is a win! 

Tip #5: Take stock: 

Why not start a conversation with your colleagues about which new work practices we can maintain when returning to the office. Think about updating your departmental travel policies or procurement manuals, so that we move on from this period with positive outcomes for our work and the environment.