The COVID effect was mostly one of trend accelerations: more people using online services for everything, delivery for everything. It produced a shock that is c

The COVID effect was mostly one of trend accelerations: more people using online services for everything, delivery for everything. It produced a shock that is currently changing our infrastructure patterns. We learned relatively quickly that although the streets cleared out, our energy use stayed roughly similar overall, and the supply shocks are tied to that story by shifting demand for goods and services in a relatively short period. Back-to-office is also part of that because one of the goods and services that could not move that quickly is real estate: individuals could move, but businesses had leases. And everyone looking at the commercial real estate market has been shaking their heads and seeing a negative trend: yes, companies did mobilize to get people back on their office commute, but the market is still sliding and cities are looking at the difficult prospect of converting commercial buildings to housing now.