Comprehensive Carbon Footprint and Cost Analysis for Different Work Scenarios

Introduction

The shift towards sustainable business practices is becoming increasingly crucial in the face of climate change. One significant aspect of sustainability is understanding and reducing the carbon footprint of business operations. This article presents an in-depth analysis of the carbon footprint, associated costs, total cost of ownership (TCO), and return on investment (ROI) for a company with 10 employees under three different work scenarios: full onsite, hybrid work (2 days onsite), and full remote work (with 2 days of meetings per month at a rental office). The aim is to highlight the environmental and financial impacts of these scenarios and showcase the potential benefits of flexible work arrangements.

Assumptions

Company Size:

• Number of employees: 10

Premises Details:

• Size: 500 square meters
• 5 offices with inefficient AC appliances (from the early 1990s)
• Neon lighting
• Internet via 5G box
• Board room with AC and 2 Samsung 55-inch screens
• Kitchen appliances: Microwave, Nespresso coffee machine, kettle

Employee Equipment:

• Each employee has a Lenovo Ideapad 5 laptop and a Samsung S22 phone

Employee Commuting:

• 50% use old diesel cars
• 25% use new unleaded cars
• 20% use hybrid cars
• 5% use fully electric cars

Monthly Expenses:

• Premises rent: $1500 (for scenarios involving office premises)
• Internet: $50
• Electricity: $200 (average)
• Water consumption: Estimated at $30/month

Emission Factors:

• Electricity: 0.92 kg CO2e per kWh (average global factor)
• Old diesel cars: 2.68 kg CO2e per liter
• New unleaded cars: 2.31 kg CO2e per liter
• Hybrid cars: 1.55 kg CO2e per liter
• Electric cars: 0.13 kg CO2e per kWh
• Water consumption: 0.000298 kg CO2e per liter (average global factor)

Estimated Electricity and Water Consumption:

• Premises: 1200 kWh per month
• Water: 100 liters per day

Commuting Details:

• Distance per commute: 30 km round trip (average)
• Commute days per month: 20 days (onsite), 8 days (hybrid), 2 days (remote)

Carbon Offset Price:

• $7.53 per metric ton CO2e

Disclaimer: The following calculations and figures are examples meant to illustrate potential cost savings and carbon footprint impacts for different work scenarios.

Estimated Carbon Footprint Calculation

Scenario 1: Full Onsite

Scope 1: Direct Emissions

• AC appliances and kitchen appliances:

Total electricity consumption per year: 1200 kWh/month * 12 = 14,400 kWh

CO2e emissions: 14,400 kWh * 0.92 kg CO2e/kWh = 13.248 metric tons CO2e

• Employee commuting:

Old diesel cars: (10 employees ?50% ?20 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 2.68 kg CO2e/liter) / 10 km/liter = 4.824 metric tons CO2e

New unleaded cars: (10 employees ?25% ?20 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 2.31 kg CO2e/liter) / 12 km/liter = 2.772 metric tons CO2e

Hybrid cars: (10 employees ?20% ?20 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 1.55 kg CO2e/liter) / 20 km/liter = 1.116 metric tons CO2e

Electric cars: (10 employees ?5% ?20 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 0.13 kg CO2e/kWh) / 6 km/kWh = 0.039 metric tons CO2e

• Total commuting emissions: 4.824 + 2.772 + 1.116 + 0.039 = 8.751 metric tons CO2e
• Total Scope 1 Emissions: 13.248 + 8.751 = 21.999 metric tons CO2e

Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from Electricity Consumption

• Electricity usage: 14,400 kWh/year * 0.92 kg CO2e/kWh = 13.248 metric tons CO2e

Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions

• Water consumption:

Total water consumption per year: 100 liters/day * 365 days/year = 36,500 liters

CO2e emissions: 36,500 liters * 0.000298 kg CO2e/liter = 0.01087 metric tons CO2e

• Total Scope 3 Emissions: 0.01087 metric tons CO2e

?

Total Carbon Footprint (Scope 1 + 2 + 3): 21.999 + 13.248 + 0.01087 = 35.25787 metric tons CO2e

Offset Cost: $7.53 per metric ton CO2e: 35.25787 metric tons * $7.53 = $265.89 per year

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Scenario 2: Hybrid Work (2 Days Onsite)

Scope 1: Direct Emissions

• AC appliances and kitchen appliances:

Total electricity consumption: 1200 kWh/month * 8 months onsite = 9600 kWh

CO2e emissions: 9600 kWh * 0.92 kg CO2e/kWh = 8.832 metric tons CO2e

• Employee commuting:

Old diesel cars: (10 employees ?50% ?8 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 2.68 kg CO2e/liter) / 10 km/liter = 1.928 metric tons CO2e

New unleaded cars: (10 employees ?25% ?8 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 2.31 kg CO2e/liter) / 12 km/liter = 1.1088 metric tons CO2e

Hybrid cars: (10 employees ?20% ?8 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 1.55 kg CO2e/liter) / 20 km/liter = 0.4464 metric tons CO2e

Electric cars: (10 employees ?5% ?8 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 0.13 kg CO2e/kWh) / 6 km/kWh = 0.0156 metric tons CO2e

• Total commuting emissions: 1.928 + 1.1088 + 0.4464 + 0.0156 = 3.4988 metric tons CO2e
• Total Scope 1 Emissions: 8.832 + 3.4988 = 12.3308 metric tons CO2e

Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from Electricity Consumption

• Electricity usage: 9600 kWh/year * 0.92 kg CO2e/kWh = 8.832 metric tons CO2e

Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions

• Water consumption:

Total water consumption per year: 100 liters/day * 240 days/year (onsite days) = 24,000 liters

CO2e emissions: 24,000 liters * 0.000298 kg CO2e/liter = 0.007152 metric tons CO2e

• Total Scope 3 Emissions: 0.007152 metric tons CO2e

?

Total Carbon Footprint (Scope 1 + 2 + 3): 12.3308 + 8.832 + 0.007152 = 21.170 metric tons CO2e

Offset Cost: $7.53 per metric ton CO2e: 21.170 metric tons * $7.53 = $159.42 per year

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Scenario 3: Full Remote (2 Days Meetings/Month)

Scope 1: Direct Emissions

• AC appliances and kitchen appliances: Not applicable since no premises are rented and no electricity is used.
• Employee commuting:

Old diesel cars: (10 employees ?50% ?2 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 2.68 kg CO2e/liter) / 10 km/liter = 0.4824 metric tons CO2e

New unleaded cars: (10 employees ?25% ?2 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 2.31 kg CO2e/liter) / 12 km/liter = 0.27648 metric tons CO2e

Hybrid cars: (10 employees ?20% ?2 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 1.55 kg CO2e/liter) / 20 km/liter = 0.11136 metric tons CO2e

Electric cars: (10 employees ?5% ?2 days/month ?12 months/year ?30 km/day * 0.13 kg CO2e/kWh) / 6 km/kWh = 0.0156 metric tons CO2e

• Total commuting emissions: 0.4824 + 0.27648 + 0.11136 + 0.0156 = 0.88584 metric tons CO2e
• Total Scope 1 Emissions: 0.88584 metric tons CO2e

Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from Electricity Consumption

• Electricity usage: Not applicable.

Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions

• Water consumption: Not applicable.
• Total Scope 3 Emissions: 0 metric tons CO2e

?

Total Carbon Footprint (Scope 1 + 2 + 3): 0.88584 metric tons CO2e

Offset Cost: $7.53 per metric ton CO2e: 0.88584 metric tons * $7.53 =$6.67 per year

TCO and ROI Analysis

With the updated assumption of multiplying the increased productivity by 10, the total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI) are recalculated.

Scenario 1: Full Onsite

• Rent: $1500/month * 12 = $18,000/year
• Internet: $50/month * 12 = $600/year
• Electricity: $200/month * 12 = $2,400/year
• Water: $30/month * 12 = $360/year
• Offset Cost: $265.89/year
• Total TCO: $18,000 + $600 + $2,400 + $360 + $265.89 = $21,625.89/year
• Increased Productivity: $5,000/year * 10 = $50,000/year
• Savings from Remote Work: $0
• ROI: (($50,000 - $21,625.89) / $21,625.89) * 100 = 131.23%

Scenario 2: Hybrid Work (2 Days Onsite)

• Rent: $1500/month * 12 = $18,000/year
• Internet: $50/month * 12 = $600/year
• Electricity: $200/month * 8 = $1,600/year
• Water: $30/month * 8 = $240/year
• Offset Cost: $159.42/year
• Total TCO: $18,000 + $600 + $1,600 + $240 + $159.42 = $20,599.42/year
• Increased Productivity: $3,000/year * 10 = $30,000/year
• Savings from Remote Work: $0
• ROI: (($30,000 - $20,599.42) / $20,599.42) * 100 = 45.67%

Scenario 3: Full Remote (2 Days Meetings/Month)

• Rent: $500/month * 12 = $6,000/year
• Internet: $0/year
• Electricity: $0/year
• Water: $0/year
• Offset Cost: $6.67/year
• Total TCO: $6,000 + $0 + $0 + $0 + $6.67 = $6,006.67/year
• Increased Productivity: $2,000/year * 10 = $20,000/year
• Savings from Remote Work: $18,000/year (rent saved from previous office)
• ROI: ((($20,000 + $18,000) - $6,006.67) / $6,006.67) * 100 = 533.12%

Tables

Carbon Impact Table

TCO & ROI Table