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Is Telework Beneficial Or Harmful For the Environment?
As more people show concern in saving the environment from man-made pollution and danger, environmental and green careers continue to emerge. Along with the emergence of earth-friendly products, earth-friendly services and careers are now being introduced. Environment-friendly jobs are not only limited to engineering and scientific roles but now include research and development. Telework or telecommuting, although basically not a new concept of work, is one earth-friendly job that is now receiving acceptance.
Working from home is now being recognized for the environmental benefits it provides. Telecommuting or working from home eliminates the need to commute to and from work thus reducing automobile emissions as well as petroleum and energy consumption. Studies have found that over a year, commuters consume an average of 10,000 miles per year which consumes around 67 billion gallons of gas. With telecommuting, vehicles miles traveled in a year will be reduced to 35 billion which will save almost 2 billion gallons of gas every year. Of course, reduced petroleum consumption would imply reduced carbon dioxide emission – which Mother Earth will surely appreciate.
But then, some people still see telecommuting as just another business fad. Since telecommuters still need to equip their homes with the necessary office materials, some analysts perceive telecommuting as simply duplicating what is already present in a company office. Other studies have noted that while carbon dioxide emission is lessened, it is replaced by nitrous oxide and methane from electric equipment use.
Perhaps the issue on telecommuting and its so-called benefits to the environment forewarns both employers and employees to carefully consider options that would be for the greater good. If an employee already has the necessary office equipment in his/her home, then the option to work from home would be highly beneficial. But if a major change such as preparing the home to function as an office space is to be done, then telecommuting is simply not the best solution to saving costs and saving the environment.
While telework can bring about positive consequences, it cannot be considered a perfect move at all instances. The issue on additional electric consumption and methane and nitrous oxide emission has relevant points that must also be considered. And as studies are continuously being conducted to verify both the benefits and negative effects of telecommuting, it is wise that companies carefully assess their own business needs and attend to such with an objective and rational mind. Telecommuting may or may not be a fad and businesses and the environment may or may not benefit from it; but if such work arrangement is properly applied to business, then the positive consequences will surely come to light.
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