I read an article this morning in my newspaper stating that the number one thing people can do to help combat global warming is to drive less. I immediately thought of how those of us who work from home–whether running a home-based business or telecommuting–are definitely doing our part to help the environment!
Minimizing travel and commuting, as well as energy and fuel costs, is one of the main ways that a home-based business can be good for the environment in the short and long term. Who knew? Unless our business involve a great deal of driving and delivery, we are probably driving far less than the person who drives to and from work each day (not to mention those extra jaunts “into the office” on weekends or after hours to do a little extra work). For many of us, we just walk into the room where our “home office” is and get to work–no gas, no pollution and definitely a minimum of waste and excess.
AND, how about the consumption we are not doing by working from home? By not going out for all those fast-food and restaurant lunches, buying the extra “work clothes” and other extra purchases that go along with working a “traditional” job–we are doing our share to cut back on consumption of paper and plastic products, throw-away items, and all those other natural and man-made resources that go into extra products.
Not that I am trying to encourage any self-righteous back-slapping–but in case you were looking for a little extra boost as to why your home-based business is a good thing–just think of all that you are doing for the environment by being in business for yourself–just the savings in gasoline and ozone emissions alone should give you cause to sleep a little better at night.
Also: Is Telecommuting for You?
What I Don’t Miss About Co-workers
If I Work at Home,Why Am I Still Eating at my Desk?