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How Telework Promotes Energy Conservation
The Internet is a big and growing industry. Now being a powerful communication system, the Internet seems to change the way people communicate. The World Wide Web has provided us with an economical means to be in contact with anyone; with just a telephone, computer, and Internet line, we are able to connect to businesses, schools, libraries, governments, stores and private individuals all over the world without costing us an arm and a leg.
And through the Internet, telework became feasible. Not only did the Internet improve the communication system, it also enhanced work set-up and promoted employment. Telework or telecommuting is one of the biggest advancement in working practices. Basically it is an alternative way of doing work through electronic data transfer. Work is executed whether through a telephone, fax, email, and video and voice conferencing. Telework is simply distance employment where a worker or employee performs work at home or at a remote location outside the company’s central office.
This form of work set-up appears to reduce commercial as well as labor costs since there is no need to prepare another work space and equipment for the employee. But it is not just about the companies getting benefits from telework as they save huge funds. Telework also addresses the growing issue on energy conservation.
Since telework allows employees to stay at home or at their chosen location and not travel to the office, traffic is lessened and energy is conserved. Since there will be less need to commute – whether through public and private vehicles – vehicle-related resources and materials are conserved. It takes great energy to produce and utilize transportation equipment, and reduction in the need for such would contribute much to conservation of that energy. Fuel resources are conserved because there are fewer vehicles that would need fuel to operate. Building and road repair will be lessened as there will be reduced need for parking lots, wide roads, and highways. And of course if there are less people to use the road, road maintenance and expansions are also lessened.
Now this is just the energy consumed when workers come to work. Once employees arrive at the office, they will still expend energy. The building of office space, acquisition of office facilities and the use of air-conditioning or heating system, lighting, and electricity to operate office machines are resources consumed. And while this energy is spent at the office, the same energy is oftentimes spent at home. Now if a worker will just utilize and make the most of the energy consumed at home, then energy may be conserved.
Telework, indeed, is something that businesses should consider. The benefits are not only for the company and the employee but also for the environment the society lives in.
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