The Fact
When large numbers of Americans began working from home in spring 2020, U.S. residential electricity use rose about 10%, according to an analysis of nationwide monthly utility data. In Texas, hourly smart-meter data showed home electricity use up 16% during working hours. The increase was larger in places where more of the workforce could work from home.
What This Means
Remote work can save commuting time and transportation costs, but it also moves part of the workplace into the home. Electricity, climate control, internet capacity, and physical workspace that were once supplied at an employer’s site can become household operating costs.
Sources
- Cicala, Steve. “Powering Work from Home.” NBER Working Paper No. 27937, October 2020. https://www.nber.org/papers/w27937