Hi Inga:

We've spent several years studying just that question. Based on a synthesis of over 250 studies on telecommuting and related topics, we've calculated that if those employees who could work from home (in other words, I'm not talking about road warriors) did so just half of the time (roughly the national average for those who already do):

-The nation would save 453 million barrels of oil (57% of Gulf oil imports)—a national savings of $31 billion per year (at $70/barrel);
- The environment would be saved from 84 million tons or greenhouse gases a year--that's over 40% of President Obama's goal for GHG reduction by 2020;
- The energy potential from the gas savings alone would total than twice what the U.S. produces from all renewable energy source combined;
- Communities would save over $3 billion in highway maintenance because 180 billion fewer miles would be driven each year;
- 150,000 people/year would be saved from traffic-related injury or death;
- $18 billion a year would be saved in accident-related costs;
- Corporate productivity would increase by 6.2 million man-years or $200 billion worth of work each year;
- Businesses would save $194 billion annually in real estate, electricity, absenteeism, and turnover;
- Employees would individually save between $2,500 and $11,000 in transportation and work-related costs (not including daycare and eldercare costs);
- Employees would gain back an extra 2.5 weeks worth of time per year—time they’d have otherwise spent commuting.

These numbers are from our Telework Savings Calculator. It's been used by company and community leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada to evaluate prospective telework programs. Our research has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Sloan Foundation, and over a hundred other publications.

BTW, the numbers above are net of extra home office electricity (including heating, cooling, and office equipment). Based on an extensive study and Congressional testimony by Sun Microsystems--a telecommuting pioneer--home offices use a third less electricity than traditional ones. What's more, studies find that home office users are more conscientious about thermostat settings, turning off lights when they leave the room, etc.

Regarding the impact of errands that would have otherwise been done on the way to and from work, our research shows that half-time telecommuters tend to hold their errands for their commuting days, or chain them into more efficient trips. For full-time telecommuters, studies show they save between 65% and 75% of their commuting time. Our full-time telecommuting model therefore reflects that as a reduction to the savings in fuel and greenhouse gases.

We've calculated what every city, county and state in the U.S. could save with half-time home-based work for its information workers. Our custom calculator allows companies and communities to vary a dozen or so variables to more accurately model their own situations. It's all available free at http://teleworkresearchnetwork.com.

Now, if you want to rant about companies that claim their road warriors are telecommuters and therefore far greener than their traditional counterparts, I'll join you on that one. More and more I'm hearing about the great strides we're making with telecommuting. Some claim that over 60% of the population now telecommutes at least of the time. The reality is that less than 3% of the employee workforce considers home their primary place of work (based on Census data that asks the question, "What was your primary place of work?).

I think these claims actually hurt the cause. If we're going to clean up the planet, we need to cut our gas consumption. Substituting technology for travel--the original definition of telework--is the best way to do that.

Thank you Kate, for your insightful comment. You guys have done lots of research!!

I think you bring up a good point in regards to how we define teleworkers. Different interpretations of this term can undoubtedly lead to some confusion when it comes to these types of questions. And what exactly are Workshifters, or Road Warriors?

Thanks again!

Thanks for bringing up an interesting topic Inga, and Kate, that's quite a stack of stats! I'll be sure to share this piece out on Twitter, see if anybody else has something to add to this discussion.

Speaking from my own experience, I think that a useful in between option is being at a coworking space, making use of shared resources and having a space to meet clients if needed.

Personally, my work doesn't ever require meeting the client in person, Skype video conferences covers that aspect. I could feasibly work at home full time if I chose (as I suspect is the case for many Workshifters) but the human interaction is, for me, critical to having an enjoyable, well rounded work experience.

The impact of that choice depends on where you live. Right now, I'm in a small town of 3000, up 5 miles of steep mountain road from my office, errands. However, I'll soon be in Portland, where, as a friend recently said, they've filled their gas tank once in four months, so the impact of transportation is minimized or even eliminated depending on which mode you choose.

In terms of computer energy use, people may want to consider using the Snow Leopard operating system for Mac, as I found that it saves 10% in energy use compared to its predecessor: http://www.greensmithconsulting.com/greensmith_consulting_hel/2009/09/the-best-feature-of-snow-leopard-what-its-missing.html

Kate Lister's numbers seem to be quote convincing, and quote intuitive as well. I know from personal experience that I would not drive anywhere near as much as I would if I were having to commute. Plus, I already have a home office, and I suspect most people do not have to purchase new hardware to work from home. Many companies already provide employees who are likely to telecommute with laptops instead of desktops.

In addition, it is potentially much easier for private individuals to reduce their personal carbon footprint, by doing things such as installing solar panels, or purchasing a fuel-efficient car, or even walking and biking instead of driving. These may be harder to implement for a large corporation.

I have seen Kate's numbers before, and I can verify many of them. I have been telecommuting full-time since 1999. (Whoa, that's.. more than half my career?)

Anecdotal evidence:

My wife and I both work from home. She is independent, but I am beholden to an office. Many days I don't leave the house. I make up for it on long trips to the office once or twice per quarter, during which I usually stay a few days. We drive an average of 8000 miles per year, somewhere between 1/2 and 2/3 the national average. At 450 miles round trip, that adds up to 1/3 of the annual mileage total, and most of it is high-efficiency highway mileage.

My lunch meetings are over Skype. Most of the people I meet with are hundreds of miles away. What telecommuter goes to lunch meetings locally?

At the office, I would have two computers going continually (software development machine and "everything else" desktop), and I would be assaulted with fluorescent lights all the time. At home, I have a development box I turn on when needed, a laptop I use 70% of the time. I turn on a single light bulb only when absolutely necessary, which is very rarely during the day. We heat with local firewood and cool with open windows.

In short, we use far less electricity than the average American household even though we both work from home, as evidenced by our electricity bill (avg 700kwh/mo for family of 3, and I'm ashamed of *that*). I have no active cell phone, no 24/7 wireless router, no multiple refrigerators keeping sodas cold, no environmental appliances, and no horrid fluorescent lights.

So I don't buy the "extra electronics at home" thing, at all. We use much less electricity per capita here than we would at offices, and we can shut them down at night here when that wouldn't be an option at an office. Working from home makes us much more earth-friendly.

There are *many* other benefits, but that is one of which we are proud.

Where did you get this theme. Is this Wordpress?

Where did you get this theme. Is this Wordpress?