NEWS
The RAC Foundation is urging more people to consider working from home to cut CO2 emissions, reduce congestion and save businesses money.
The Foundation has been working with the Energy Saving Trust and WorkWise UK to encourage smarter working practices.
By using common technologies such as wi-fi and VPNs, it is now much easier for people to work from home. According to RAC Foundation research, around 50 per cent of UK workers are "information workers" whose ability to do their job is not dependant on location.
The Energy Saving Trust has calculated that if every business motorist leaves the car at home once per week, it could reduce total CO2 emissions by one per cent, and the annual miles saved would equal 35,000 round trips to the moon.
The other significant benefit is a reduction in congestion as it would be the equivalent of taking 1.7 million cars off the road.
Sheila Rainger, campaigns manager at the RAC Foundation, told silicon.com making more employers aware of the possibilities of alternative working practices is a major challenge.
She added that concerns about cost are a big obstacle - for example many managers believe videoconferencing is very costly but in reality can be done simply with a webcam and broadband connection.
The RAC Foundation also wants businesses to have fewer conferences and meetings and instead exchange knowledge via online communities, wikis and affordable videoconferencing.
The idea is not without support, with Local Transport Planning Network research indicating 75 per cent of professionals believe tech will help cut business miles.
Comments
There are 8 comments. Join the discussion
1. Chris Down
I have been home based in IT Sales, Marketing & Support for the past 12 years. I use all the available technologies, VPN, VOIP, Webex etc to minimise my tme on the road.. although I do miss the personal contact of face to face meetings.
In return for this very green way of working Customs and Revenue allow me to claim tax relief on 25% of my gas and electricity bills.
That is the sum total of the incentives to work the way that I do.
When will government stop its constant search for more ways of taking money from us and actually provide reward and incentive for green working practices.
2. anonymous
This is what the Government should be pushing - Use all our spare prisoners to dig up the country and put in fibre. We could lower CO2 and cut congestion in one fell swoop.
But wait - this would not earn the government revenue so they would rather push on with Road Tolls and ignore fast internet......
3. anonymous
Can I ask why it is that the motorist and employers seem to be the target for the solution of a much bigger problem. The Government (all of them) has failed the whole country with its public transport policies or rather lack of them. I thought the RAC was there to defend the motorist not agree we can be blamed for everything. Yes a car does create "issues" but this problem is huge and world wide. I support many of the proposed ideas but these should either be funded centrally or not be forced upon people. Lets deliver education via technology .. all school children could be taught at a distance now ... the roads are much better when the schools are off... but who would pay for it. Easier it seems to tax mobility. So whilst we cripple our own country turning the clock back in effect the east relentlesy moves forward undoing all our work here?
4. Mark Hudson
I've just returned from a conference where there was a presentation given about this subject. Two major multinational companies gave details on how they are using e-meetings, videoconferencing and eRoom (EMC/Documentum) to generate huge savings in transportation costs for their staff. The savings have more than paid for the software investment and are now generating savings on company car mileage, travel and hotels.
Interestingly, the companies concerned were none other than car makers Nissan and Renault.
5. Theo Stickle
I agree with the article, it would save everyone money in the short term and the long run. The down side to this is living in America where the Telcoms have promissed a fiberoptic network, charged us for its' construction since 1993, and have yet to start building it.
6. anonymous
What an apalling suggestion from the RAC,
an organisation who should go back to their original purpose: promoting motoring and defending the motorist against ill-concieved and undesirable legislation. Do they still remember the red flag act and the fight for it's abolition?
The RAC should be sending the opposite message, cars are not the cause of global warming, congestion is caused by lack of investment in roads, ridiculous 100 yard bus lanes, uninformed fiddling with traffic light timing, so - called traffic calming... the list is almost endless. I intend to cancel my subscription to the RAC and sign up with any organisation who defends the motorist.
7. David Low
I've worked from home since 1995 - thoroughly recommend it. Other benefits, not mentioned in this article:
*no one to interrupt you with idle chat and gossip
*no need to waste money on clothes - jeans and T-shirt unless visiting a client
*no EU meddling prat spying on your working hours (I average 60 p.w)
*play pleasant background music, or not, as the mood takes you.
*God Bless WEBEX!!. Even less reason to travel to present a demo
*God Bless SKYPE
8. Harry the hedgehog
The Sales Director in Birmingham is choosing to miss the point by dissin the RAC suggestion that we cut down out journeys.
It is not a case of "blaming the motorist again", it's a case of waking up to reality that the roads are close to maximum capacity. Using technology is great and absolutely c
So why do some people feel the need to drive so much? I hear sales guys, sorry road warriors, bragging of their 40,000 miles a year or more? "For imortant client meetings". Bullshit, it's cos they love larging it up in their beamer or Lexus or other piece of corporate bling that sits so proudly on their front drive. These same people will bemoan the lack of decent public transport but even if there was a station outside their house they still wouldn't use the train cos they dont' like to mix with the dirty proleteriat.
So car-lovers, thanks for screwing up the environment you selfish twats.
I hope other councils copy Richmond and tax motorists til their pips squeak.