Environmental analysis of telework: What we know, and what we do not know and why

It is commonly believed that telework is good for the environment because it saves energy through reduced commuting. Millions are teleworking worldwide. Some peer-reviewed publications in the last decade have shown that the principles of life-cycle assessment (LCA) have to be applied to telework (just like to other products and services) in order to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of all the facets of telework: transportation, building use (heating, cooling, lighting), electrical and electronic equipment use, and information and communication technology. Through the lens of LCA, telework may still turn out to be beneficial, but not everywhere and on every occasion. Indeed, it has been found that it depends on the individual or collective scenarios and modes of implementation whether telework can bring environmental benefits for an individual, company, or state. However, a critical mass of studies is still missing. A brief review is presented of the literature and state of knowledge about the environmental performance of telework, with areas noted where knowledge is scant and research is needed.