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New insights on the energy impacts of telework

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Abstract

Quantifying the energy impact of teleworking has been challenging due to the low prevalence of telework. The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated widespread shift to telework provides a new opportunity to study the energy impact of teleworking. Within two months of the lockdowns we surveyed 297 knowledge-based workers who started primarily working from home to investigate their energy-related behaviours and attitudes. The survey's major themes are energy-saving actions taken in the office, equipment used for telework, impacts on home energy useage, and both awareness of and response to electricity pricing. Given trends towards increased teleworking in the future, these results can inform public policy related to teleworking and energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannah Villeneuve & Ahmed Abdeen & Maya Papineau & Sharane Simon & Cynthia Cruickshank & William O'Brien, 2020. "New insights on the energy impacts of telework," Carleton Economic Papers 20-20, Carleton University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:car:carecp:20-20
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    telework; household energy consumption; occupant behaviour; electricity policy; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities

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