As defined in Webster's New World Dictionary, Third Edition, telecommuting is "an electronic mode of doing work outside the office that traditionally has been done in the office, as by computer terminal in the employee's home." Basically, it is working at home utilizing current technology, such as computers, modems, and fax machines. Traditionally, people havecommuted by cars, buses, trains, and subways, to work and back. Through theinnovation of telecommuting, , the actual necessity to change location in orderto accomplish this task has been challenged on the basis of concerns for energyconservation, loss of productivity, and other issues.One advantage of telecommuting is energy conservation. A tremendousamount of energy is required to produce transportation equipment such asautomobiles, buses trains, and subways. If telecommuting is promoted, therewill be less use of this equipment and less energy will be required forproduction, maintenance, and repair of this equipment. Fuel resources needed tooperate this equipment will be reduced. The building and repair of highways andmaintenance requires a large consumption of energy, not only in the operation ofthe highway construction and repair equipment, but also in the manufacture andtransportation of the required materials. An increase in the percentage ofpeople telecommuting to work will decrease the need for expanded highways andassociated road maintenance. The first two areas related to getting to work.Once a person arrives at a central office working location, he or she representsanother energy consumer, often times magnified many times over what would berequired at home. The office building has heating, cooling, and lighting needs,and the materials to build it and maintain it require energy in their productionand transportation. Working from home requires only modest incremental demandson energy for heating, cooling, and lighting needs, and makes effective use ofexisting...
