We often hear that people should think globally and act locally to protect the environment. Often forgotten among the segments of society who are doing their share to conserve resources for future generations are home based offices and businesses. In an era of Peak Oil and climate change, the telecommuter and solopreneur are more important to the economy than ever.
Home based business ventures and home satellite offices are now a fixture of the modern economy. Service based industries and outsourced subcontractors are one of the fastest growing segments of the business landscape. Many large corporations are using telecommuting and modern technology to manage off site employees as well. With the rise of the internet, as a base for entirely new business models, countless virtual companies exist purely as online entities.
Usually, the discussion of home based companies, virtual organizations, and distance employees revolves around the cost savings and boost to the local economies. While these are the most obvious benefits of home located companies, there are some hidden benefits to society as well. One of those seldom discussed values of working from home is protection of the environment and less drain on global stocks of fossil fuels. The gasoline consumption, and exhaust emission levels of the commuter are reduced dramatically, when going to work means simply walking to another room in the house.
The world is entering a period of more uncertainty about oil supplies, and faces the threat of Peak Oil. The concept of Peak Oil means that the supply of oil and the rate of new discoveries cannot keep pace with overall demand. As a result, the price of gasoline and other petroleum based products will continue to skyrocket into the future. The home based business person avoids part of the expense of buying gasoline for travel to work. At the same time avoiding a commute doesn't add automobile based pollution to the air, or contribute to congestion on the highways.
Many people are demanding more government regulation of emissions, fuel prices, and highway travel speeds. While these pleas go on, the competitive enterprise economy is finding its own solutions to the problem.
Capitalism based on the profit motive, is providing the answers to environmental issues, and to higher crude oil costs on its own. The main motivations for starting home based business ventures, and for sourcing and managing employees over a distance, may be immediate cost savings. Over the longer term, the profit motive works to help the environment as well, without added regulation from government.
The competitive enterprise system, when left alone to solve problems and seek profits, creates unexpected benefits for everyone. One of the beneficiaries is the environment.
