Jun 24 2008
Why working from home is better for the environment.
According to statistics compiled by the United Nations, every American, on average, is responsible for 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every YEAR! In contrast, the world average is 6 tons per person per year.
You can save a ton of energy by working from home! Offices light the common areas, hallways, lots of places that people don’t even need light, all day long everyday. Do you leave every light on in your house all day long? Of course not, but I bet your office does. Most offices burn lights 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Can you imagine the cost of that?! It’s staggering. Office buildings are notoriously less efficient than even the least insulated home. You already have the energy efficient florescent bulbs installed, don’t you? Replacing 3 bulbs will save you $60 a year and if everyone did it, we could keep a TRILLION pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Pack a lunch and save the environment. Face it, going out for lunch 5 days a week not only costs you quite a bit of cash but you also pay more frequently at the gas pump. You may only be paying $5 for that sandwich and a drink, but you may be paying as much for the gas you used driving to and from the fast food joint. Buying your groceries for the week or two weeks all at once saves gas, wear and tear on your car, and puts your money into your local businesses. In many cases this helps the local farmers, who desperately need our support. When you are shopping for your groceries think about where they are coming from. I just read a statistic that New York State produces more apples than its inhabitants can consume every year, but the majority of apples purchased in that state come from Chili or Washington. Shipping all those apples 3 thousand or 9 thousand miles wastes a huge amount of fuel and this only happens because people don’t think about buying locally.
Eating at home is also better for you anyway. I won’t pretend to be a nutritionist here but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize a ham & cheese sandwich made at home is better for you than a triple quarter pounder with cheese. Even if you do order the diet coke.
This summer has really been a scorcher, but my home office is in my basement. Being underground makes it much cooler because its insulated by the earth. I suspect underground offices are a common occurrence in today’s homes, so turning back the air-conditioning during the summer work day shouldn’t really be a comfort issue at all, and you can save the environment as well as a bundle of dough! Its a win win!
Working from home may not workout for everybody but in the upcoming articles I will show you how you may be able to supplement your income from home and possibly work from home full time.
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