Telecommuting: An alternative route to work

Journal Article · · Home Energy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6475764

Quaid, M

Since 1970, traffic volumes have more than doubled on freeways in the Puget Sound region. Transportation is now the region's single largest energy consumer, and motor vehicles are the leading source of air pollution. The Washington State Energy Office recently completed the Puget Sound Telecommuting Demonstration, a one-year pilot study in which 280 people from 25 organizations worked part-time at home or at a work center near their homes, instead of driving to work. A decrease in transportation energy was the dominant energy impact. The estimated transportation energy savings were about 5,200 Btu annually per telecommuter, with an increase in home energy use of about 700 Btu per telecommuter. The net energy savings, taking all impacts into consideration, was about 4,800 Btu per telecommuter per year. Putting this in perspective, a car traveling 1,000 miles and getting 25 miles per gallon consumes about 5,000 Btu, and a typical all-electric Northwest home used about 75,000 Btu annually. On average, telecommuters saved 1.7 trips, 39 miles, and 67 minutes on telecommuting days, with most reductions occuring during morning and evening peak commute periods. Home-based telecommuters eliminated an average of 34 round trip commutes, about 1,220 miles, 49 gal of gasoline (based on 25 miles per gallon), and 42 hours of commute time annually. Most telecommuters said they usually drove to work alone, so most trips saved were single occupant vehicle trips. Taken together, the telecommuters in the demonstration saved about 6,460 round trips, 231,800 miles, and 11,600 gal of gas over the demonstration year.

• OSTI ID: 6475764
• Journal Information: Home Energy; (United States), Journal Name: Home Energy; (United States) Vol. 10:3; ISSN 0896-9442; ISSN HOENE2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320203* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Transportation-- Land & Roadway
ANIMALS
CONTROL
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FUEL CONSUMPTION
MAMMALS
MAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
PUGET SOUND
ROADS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TRAFFIC CONTROL
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
VERTEBRATES