Editing Telecommuting (section)

== Environmental benefits ===

Telecommuting gained more ground in the United States in 1996 after "the [[Clean Air Act]] amendments were adopted with the expectation of reducing carbon dioxide and ground-level ozone levels by 25 percent."Siano, M. (1998, March-April). "Merging home and office: telecommuting is a high-tech energy saver" [Electronic version]. E. The act required companies with over 100 employees to encourage car pools, public transportation, shortened workweeks, and telecommuting. In 2004, an appropriations bill was enacted by Congress to encourage telecommuting for certain [[Federal Government of the United States|Federal]] agencies. The bill threatened to withhold money from agencies that failed to provide telecommuting options to all eligible employees.

Telecommuting is seen as a solution to [[traffic congestion]] caused by single-car commuting, and the resulting urban [[air pollution]] and [[petroleum]] use. Initial investments in the network infrastructure and hardware are balanced by an increased productivity and overall greater well-being of telecommuting staff (more quality family time, less travel-related stress), which makes the arrangement attractive to companies, especially those who face large operating costs related to the need for a central office. Although estimates vary on the number of workers telecommuting in the U.S., some studies anticipate that the number will rise over the next few years. Barriers to continued growth of telecommuting include distrust from employers and personal disconnectedness for employees.{{cite web|url=http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&program=DI%20Main%20Page%20-%20News&id=4235|title=Slow But Steady "Telework Revolution" Eyed|author=Matt Rosenberg|publisher=Cascadia Prospectus|date=2007-09-26|accessdate=2007-10-07}}

Research conducted by Kate Lister and Tom Harnish in 2008 shows that thirty-three million Americans hold jobs that could be performed at home. If they did, the U.S. could make major cuts in oil dependency. Based on their synthesis of data from EPA, DOT, and 7 other recent sources, they found that telework could reduce Gulf oil imports by 24 to 48%, reduce greenhouse gases by up to 67 million metric tons a year, and save as much as 7.5 billion gallons of gasoline each year. These new telecommuters would collectively avoid 154 billion miles of driving and save $25 billion in fuel purchases (even accounting for mileage for errands formerly accomplished driving to or from work). What's more, their research shows that by not commuting, these new teleworkers would enjoy the equivalent of an extra 5 workweeks of free time each year.{{cite web|url=http://undress4success.com/tell-the-middle-east-to-pound-sand/|title=Tell The Middle East To Pound Sand|author=Kate Lister and Tom Harnish|publisher=http://www.Undress4Success.com|date=2008-01-31|accessdate=2008-01-31}}