Go green: work at the office not at home

It seems the perfect combination of conscience and convenience, but working from home may not be so good for the planet after all.

In fact, the growing numbers who avoid daily commuting could actually be contributing to global warming, research shows.

They typically produce almost a third more carbon dioxide in a year than staff based in offices.

The conclusions will come as a shock to leading industry figures and government officials, who are keen to promote home working as a way for businesses to reduce their impact on the environment and ease pressure on the creaking transport network.

More than 3.4 million people, about 12 per cent of the work force, now regularly work from home. But research from WSP Environmental, a firm of independent consultants, found that while home workers can save carbon emissions by not commuting, the extra heating and power they use during the winter months can outweigh the benefits.

Telegraph