scholarly journals Can we save GHG emissions by working from home?

Author(s):  
Georgina Santos ◽  
Rayan Azhari

Abstract Using data from official government publications in the UK, we estimate the potential changes in transport and buildings CO2e emissions in England and Wales if those engaged in jobs compatible with homeworking were to work mainly from home. We find that the net result is likely to be an increase, rather than a decrease in CO2e emissions. Assuming that 20% to 30% of workers were to work from home, the increase would range from 0.18% to 0.97% relative to emissions from the buildings and transport sectors combined, and from 0.11% to 0.60% relative to emissions from all sources. Under the very unrealistic assumptions that the buildings where the new teleworkers used to work close permanently rather than remain open or be repurposed, and there is no rebound travel, there are modest emissions savings, which range from 0.61% to 1.63% of CO2e emissions from the transport and building sectors combined, and from 0.38% to 1.01% of CO2e emissions from all sources when 20% to 30% of workers work from home.

Author(s):  
Eleftherios Giovanis ◽  
Oznur Ozdamar

In response to the threat posed by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the UK prime minister announced on the 23rd of March strict lockdowns and introduced a new way of living and working, at least temporarily. This included working from home (WHF) wherever possible. Many experts from the IT industry were long arguing about the potential for WFH, which suddenly now became indisputable. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of WFH on the individuals’ perception about their future financial situation and their mental well-being. We apply a difference-in-differences (DiD) framework using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) combined with the UKHLS COVID-19 survey conducted in April 2020. Our findings suggest that those who have not experienced a shift from working at the employer’s premises to WFH became more concerned about their future financial situation. However, we find that WFH has a negative impact on mental well-being. On the other hand, we find no difference in the mental well-being when we consider those who work from home on occasion. The findings of this study have policy implications for government, firms and health practitioners. In particular, a balance between WFH and at the employer’s premises may provide both financial security and maintain the mental and psychological well-being at satisfying levels.


Author(s):  
Ron Johnston ◽  
Charles Pattie

The funding of political parties is an issue of considerable contemporary concern in the UK. Although most attention has been paid to the situation regarding national parties, the new funding regime introduced in 2001 also applies to constituency parties, and some concerns have been raised regarding the limits on spending and expenditure there. Using data released by the Electoral Commission on all donations above a specified minimum to constituency parties, this article looks at the pattern of donations over the period 2001–05. It then analyses the impact of spending on the 2005 constituency campaigns, showing that for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats substantial donations enhanced their vote-winning performances in seats where their candidates were challengers whereas for Labour substantial donations aided its performance in marginal seats that it was defending.


2000 ◽  
Vol 1706 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Drucker ◽  
Asad J. Khattak

Working from home is regaining its popularity because of the advantages it presents for both employees and employers. Telecommunications technologies are enabling the new work-at-home phenomena. This study expands the existing body of work-at-home and telecommuting research by using data from the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey to consider a larger sample and to include characteristics unavailable in previous analyses. The effects of socioeconomic, household, locational, and accessibility variables on individuals’ choices to work from home are estimated with ordered logit, ordered probit, and multinomial logit models, using a two-equation sample selection regression process. The three models give very similar results. They indicate that educational attainment and the presence of small children in the household encourage frequent working from home. Males and drivers choose to work from home more often than females or nondrivers, and the lack of free parking at work promotes home work. These findings bear implications for trip-generation forecasting and suggest directions for policies intended to influence commute travel.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heejung Chung ◽  
Holly Birkett ◽  
Sarah Forbes ◽  
Hyojin Seo

This paper examines how working from home influenced the division of childcare and housework among dual earning heterosexual couples with children in the UK during the first wave of the COVID-19 lockdown. We use unique data gathered during the peak of the UK lockdown (May-June), when many employees were required to work from home, to see whether fathers flexible working was associated with a more equitable division of housework and childcare. We found mothers were more likely to be the ones carrying out more if not all of five of the six categories of housework and care we examined – namely, cooking, cleaning, routine and non-routine childcare, and the education of children/home-schooling, both before and during the lockdown. This was not the case for the DIY tasks. A multivariate regression analysis showed that when fathers worked from home or using flexitime during the lockdown, a more equal division was found for tasks such as cleaning, routine childcare, and to some extent home schooling. Furthermore, fathers who worked flexibly were more likely to report that they had increased the amount of time they spent on housework and care. Mothers also reported that fathers who worked from home increased the time they spent on routine childcare. Overall, the study shows how flexible working, including working from home among men, especially done on a mass scale where there are no negative assumptions or stigma behind its use, may lead to a more equitable distribution of housework and childcare. Policy makers should encourage more men to work from home in order to support families and women’s labour market participation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.


2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 2721-2727 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Prescott

The UK is committed to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets and has introduced a number of initiatives to achieve these. Until recently, these targeted energy-intensive industries and, thus, the water sector was not significantly affected. However, from 2010, UK water companies will need to report their emissions under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). Both Ofwat (the economic regulator for water companies in England and Wales) and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) now require annual reporting of GHG emissions in accordance with both Defra Guidelines and the CRC. Also, carbon impacts must now be factored into all water industry investment planning in England and Wales. Building on existing approaches, the industry has developed standardised carbon accounting methodologies to meet both of these requirements. This process has highlighted gaps in knowledge where further research is needed.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e029572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris M Penfold ◽  
Ashley W Blom ◽  
Adrian Sayers ◽  
J Mark Wilkinson ◽  
Linda Hunt ◽  
...  

ObjectivesPrimary: describe uptake of new implant components (femoral stem or acetabular cup/shell) for total hip replacements (THRs) in the National Joint Registry for England and Wales (NJR). Secondary: compare the characteristics of: (a) surgeons and (b) patients who used/received new rather than established components.DesignCohort of 618 393 primary THRs performed for osteoarthritis (±other indications) by 4979 surgeons between 2008 and 2017 in England and Wales from the NJR. We described the uptake of new (first recorded use >2008, used within 5 years) stems/cups, and variation in uptake by surgeons (primary objectives). We explored surgeon-level and patient-level factors associated with use/receipt of new components with logistic regression models (secondary objectives).OutcomesPrimary outcomes: total number of new cups/stems, proportion of operations using new versus established components. Secondary outcomes: odds of: (a) a surgeon using a new cup/stem in a calendar-year, (b) a patient receiving a new rather than established cup/stem.ResultsSixty-eight new cups and 72 new stems were used in 47 606 primary THRs (7.7%) by 2005 surgeons (40.3%) 2008–2017. Surgeons used a median of one new stem and cup (25%–75%=1–2 both, max=10 cups, max=8 stems). Surgeons performed a median total of 22 THRs (25%–75%=5–124, range=1–3938) in the period 2008–2017. Surgeons used new stems in a median of 5.0% (25%–75%=1.3%–16.1%) and new cups in a median of 9.4% (25%–75%=2.8%–26.7%) of their THRs. Patients aged <55 years old versus those 55–80 had higher odds of receiving a new rather than established stem (OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.73–1.93) and cup (OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.25–1.37). Women had lower odds of receiving a new stem (OR=0.87, 95% CI=0.84–0.90), higher odds of receiving a new cup (OR=1.06, 95% CI=1.03–1.09).ConclusionsLarge numbers of new THR components have been introduced in the NJR since 2008. 40% of surgeons have tried new components, with wide variation in how many types and frequency they have been used.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Johns ◽  
Sashin Ahuja ◽  
Sara Khalil ◽  
Mike Ogonovsky ◽  
Alka Ahuja

<p><i>Using data from a larger study, a theme on ‘homeworking’ emerged. Data from 437 semi-structured interviews with NHS professionals across a wide range of specialities identified a dominant theme of ‘homeworking’. Using this themed data, a short preliminary article has been produced with an infographic guide that is developed as a generic guide, not just for NHS staff<b>. </b>There are considerable benefits relating to the current changes in working patterns, with now many working from home, however there are also challenges and risks associated to these changes, which require further exploration to ensure that the UK workforce is best utilised, yet protected. This article provides an overview of this data, and a helpful hints and tips infographic. A larger, UK-based study is now underway (in NHS and other) to explore the experience of homeworking, and understand its benefits and challenges in more depth to help inform government policymaking decisions in the UK. </i></p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Johns ◽  
Sashin Ahuja ◽  
Sara Khalil ◽  
Mike Ogonovsky ◽  
Alka Ahuja

<p><i>Using data from a larger study, a theme on ‘homeworking’ emerged. Data from 437 semi-structured interviews with NHS professionals across a wide range of specialities identified a dominant theme of ‘homeworking’. Using this themed data, a short preliminary article has been produced with an infographic guide that is developed as a generic guide, not just for NHS staff<b>. </b>There are considerable benefits relating to the current changes in working patterns, with now many working from home, however there are also challenges and risks associated to these changes, which require further exploration to ensure that the UK workforce is best utilised, yet protected. This article provides an overview of this data, and a helpful hints and tips infographic. A larger, UK-based study is now underway (in NHS and other) to explore the experience of homeworking, and understand its benefits and challenges in more depth to help inform government policymaking decisions in the UK. </i></p>


Until 2019, TBE was considered only to be an imported disease to the United Kingdom. In that year, evidence became available that the TBEV is likely circulating in the country1,2 and a first “probable case” of TBE originating in the UK was reported.3 In addition to TBEV, louping ill virus (LIV), a member of the TBEV-serocomplex, is also endemic in parts of the UK. Reports of clinical disease caused by LIV in livestock are mainly from Scotland, parts of North and South West England and Wales.4


2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (48) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

The Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre for England and Wales and others have reported that the number of people living with HIV in the UK has increased


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