HIDDEN COSTS AND GREEN DIVIDENDS IN THE DIGITAL WAVE: REASSESSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF EMERGING WORK AND COMMUNICATION PATTERNS
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In an era of accelerating digitalization, new modes of work like remote work and virtual conferences are often seen as "green" alternatives. However, their systemic environmental impacts are complex, involving deep shifts in energy use, lifestyle, and infrastructure. This dissertation systematically explores the environmental footprint of these new patterns to answer a core question: How large is the green dividend from digitalization, and what are its overlooked hidden costs?My research moves beyond a narrow focus on transportation substitution to include the complex rebound effects of ICT usage, office and residential energy, and non-commute travel. For academic conferences, virtualization offers substantial emissions reductions, but this work uncovers non-linear trade-offs between participant geography, hub location, and attendance levels, providing a basis for optimizing both scholarly and environmental outcomes. Similarly, the environmental benefit of remote work is not determined by technology itself but is highly sensitive to lifestyle choices and workplace configurations. To resolve inconclusive findings on remote work, this dissertation applies causal analysis to post-pandemic survey data, disentangling how remote work frequency reshapes the carbon footprints of US workers. A critical trade-off is revealed: high-frequency teleworking (e.g., 4-5 days/week) significantly mitigates climate change by up to 50.4 kg CO₂ eq. per week. In contrast, low-frequency teleworking can inadvertently increase emissions, primarily due to rebound travel from other household members. This finding refutes non-causal models, which overestimate benefits across all frequencies. A nationwide two-day remote work policy could reduce emissions by 57 Mt CO₂ eq., more than double the non-causal estimate, with impacts varying significantly by region. These findings point to a central conclusion: technological advancement alone does not guarantee a sustainable future. Realizing the environmental potential of digitalization hinges on fostering systemic changes in behavior and institutions. This work provides a scientific basis for more informed decision-making and lays the groundwork for future explorations into the co-evolution of a digital society and a sustainable energy system.