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Environmental policy implications of working from home: Modelling the impacts of land-use, infrastructure and socio-demographics

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  • Fu, Miao
  • Andrew Kelly, J.
  • Peter Clinch, J.
  • King, Fearghal

Abstract

Working from home is generally perceived as an effective means of reducing energy use and associated pollution from commuter transport. In order to consider the merits of mechanisms and policies to support a change in behaviour that results in greater take-up of home working, this paper applies energy consumption per commute calculations and a logit model using a case study of Ireland. In marked contrast with larger countries, the energy consumption per commute is relatively low in Ireland. Nonetheless, the analysis indicates that, on average, at least an average net saving of 9.33kWh per day can be achieved where an individual converts to working from home, after deducting the home energy consumption associated with home working. We find that land use patterns, public transport networks, internet infrastructure, commute distances and socio-demographic characteristics can serve to influence rates of home working. Encouraging the higher and lower professional categories and those in the service sectors to work from home should be the highest priority in terms of energy and emissions reductions. Increased coverage of internet services and railway coverage will support higher rates of home working. Increased dispersion of residential, commercial and industrial areas serves to encourage greater home working.

Suggested Citation

  • Fu, Miao & Andrew Kelly, J. & Peter Clinch, J. & King, Fearghal, 2012. "Environmental policy implications of working from home: Modelling the impacts of land-use, infrastructure and socio-demographics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 416-423.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:47:y:2012:i:c:p:416-423
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.05.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Miao Fu & Aoife Ahern & J. Andrew Kelly, 2011. "Regional Characteristics and the distribution of car engine sizes: a case study of Ireland," Open Access publications 10197/3125, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
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    2. Ferreira, João-Pedro & Barata, Eduardo & Ramos, Pedro Nogueira & Cruz, Luis, 2014. "Economic, social, energy and environmental assessment of inter-municipality commuting: The case of Portugal," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 411-418.
    3. O'Keefe, Paul & Caulfield, Brian & Brazil, William & White, Peter, 2016. "The impacts of telecommuting in Dublin," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 13-20.
    4. Balbontin, Camila & Hensher, David A. & Beck, Matthew J., 2022. "Advanced modelling of commuter choice model and work from home during COVID-19 restrictions in Australia," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. André de Palma & Patrick Stokkink & Nikolas Geroliminis, 2020. "Influence of Dynamic Congestion on Carpooling Matching," THEMA Working Papers 2020-12, THEMA (THéorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), Université de Cergy-Pontoise.
    6. Crowley, Frank & Daly, Hannah & Doran, Justin & Ryan, Geraldine, 2020. "COVID-19, social distancing, remote work and transport choice," SRERC Working Paper Series SRERCWP2020-4, University College Cork (UCC), Spatial and Regional Economic Research Centre (SRERC).
    7. Pyddoke, Roger, 2016. "Modelling effects of policy instruments for sustainable urban transport in Scandinavia," Working papers in Transport Economics 2016:29, CTS - Centre for Transport Studies Stockholm (KTH and VTI).
    8. Juan Ramón López Soler & Panayotis Christidis & José Manuel Vassallo, 2021. "Teleworking and Online Shopping: Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Their Impact on Transport Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-24, June.
    9. Crowley, Frank & Daly, Hannah & Doran, Justin & Ryan, Geraldine & Caulfield, Brian, 2021. "The impact of labour market disruptions and transport choice on the environment during COVID-19," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 185-195.
    10. de Palma, André & Stokkink, Patrick & Geroliminis, Nikolas, 2022. "Influence of dynamic congestion with scheduling preferences on carpooling matching with heterogeneous users," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 479-498.
    11. Sramana Mukherjee & Dushyant Narang, 2023. "Digital Economy and Work-from-Home: The Rise of Home Offices Amidst the COVID-19 Outbreak in India," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(2), pages 924-945, June.
    12. Hambly, Helen & Lee, Jamie (Donghoon), 2019. "The rural telecommuter surplus in Southwestern Ontario, Canada," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 278-286.
    13. Andrew Hook & Victor Court & Benjamin K Sovacool & Steven Sorrell, 2020. "A Systematic Review of the Energy and Climate Impacts of Teleworking," Working Papers hal-03192905, HAL.

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