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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS WORKING FROM HOME PROVIDES |
Published: 30/12/08 |
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Telecommuting gained more ground after it became more of a need to reduce carbon dioxide and ground-level ozone levels. Companies looked at encouraging car pools, public transportation, shortened working weeks and working from home.
Working from home can assist towards a solution to traffic congestion caused by single-car commuting and the resulting urban air pollution. The high cost of fuel also becomes a factor.
Initial investments in the network infrastructure and hardware are balanced by an increased productivity and overall greater well-being of telecommuting staff (more quality family time, less travel-related stress), which makes the arrangement attractive to companies. It cuts the need for office costs and the environmental problems from heating, lighting, etc.
Research conducted in the US show that thirty-three million Americans hold jobs that could be performed at home. If they did, the U.S. could make major cuts in oil dependency.
Based on their synthesis of data from EPA, DOT, and 7 other recent sources, it was found that working from home could reduce Gulf oil imports by 24 to 48%, reduce greenhouse gases by up to 67 million metric tons a year and save as much as 7.5 billion gallons of gasoline each year.
These new people working from home would collectively avoid 154 billion miles of driving and save $25 billion in fuel purchases (even accounting for mileage for errands formerly accomplished driving to or from work).
What's more, the research shows that by not commuting, an extra five weeks of free time would be enjoyed.
Although the research was in the US it could easily be very similar in the UK. More and more staff are working from home at least twice per week making huge savings in time, expense and frustration.
Employees who are already taking this option have less stress and enjoy their work much more. If laptops are used, nice days could allow working in the garden, the park, etc.
What could be better?
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