When it comes to Utah’s air quality, there are multiple ways that you can help improve the air we all breathe. Limiting the number of miles you drive in your car is a significant way to reduce emissions of PM2.5, which contributes to both summer ozone and winter inversion. Share the benefits of teleworking with your coworkers and see if you can establish a program if one doesn’t already exist.
If you’re not already familiar with the concept, teleworking means that you can perform your work at an alternative worksite, whether it’s your home or a coffee shop. While some jobs are not able to accommodate teleworking, many occupations make it possible to work from home. Across the state, many Utahns are reaping the benefits of teleworking and decreasing the emissions that affect our air quality.
In addition to helping our air quality, benefits of teleworking include:
- More effective employees
- Uninterrupted work
- Reduced infrastructure costs
- Decreased training costs
- Lower relocation costs
- Increased quality of life
In a recent pilot program, the State of Utah allowed 136 employees to telework and found that productivity went up by almost 20%. Because of the positive results, the State of Utah is ready to extend the program to eligible employees across the state. The pilot program prevented 273 pounds of carbon dioxide from being added to our air and has the potential to eliminate monthly emissions from cars by almost 1,300 pounds.
If your work doesn’t currently allow teleworking, talk to your HR department about introducing the option. There are various methods of teleworking, such as working from home one day a week or adding four 10-hour days, that may work best for your department. If your HR department is hesitant, ask them to survey other employees to determine interest levels. As part of the pitch to your company, make sure to include the positive environmental impact teleworking has on our air quality, too.
