One in three want to keep home working

ALMOST one in three employees plan to continue working from home after the lockdown ends, often for environmental reasons, new research suggests.

The sudden change in lifestyle due to the coronavirus crisis has been an “environmental wake-up call” for many, said finance firm Halifax.

Its survey of 3,000 adults found that two in five said they had become more aware of climate change in recent months.

Three out of five said they did not expect things to ever go back to normal, and most were hopeful the world can make real changes to tackle the climate emergency.

Four out of five of those surveyed believed remote working was a solution to reducing emissions but the report said this may do more harm than good in homes with low energy efficiency rates.

Andy Mason, Halifax mortgage director, said: “It’s clear that for many going back to ‘business as usual’ isn’t going to be an option and instead they will continue to spend more time at home, believing it to be better for the environment.

“However, without taking steps to ensure homes are as efficient as they can be, these good intentions could be clouded by rising energy usage and monthly bills - at a time when many are concerned about their financial security as well as the planet.”