{"id":{"repo_id":"carleton","oai_identifier":"oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/44026"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/carleton/oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/44026","repository":{"repo_id":"carleton","name":"Carleton University","base_url":"https://carleton.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Quantitative Assessment of Energy and Emissions Impacts of Teleworking on the Four Domains of Homes, Offices, Transportation, and the Internet","abstract":"Telework was introduced in 1980s as an alternative work arrangement with the aim of reducing transportation. Telework primarily impacts four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet in terms of energy use and emissions. Previous studies mostly focused on a single domain but savings from one domain can be offset by another domain, resulting in different and even contradictory results in the current literature. Therefore, this thesis aims to quantify the overall impact of teleworking on the four domains simultaneously to reach a conclusion regarding the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with telework. To achieve this, the current thesis utilizes a mixed-methods approach to inform simulations and to quantify emissions. It begins with a comprehensive literature review and interviews to identify existing gaps. This is followed by a simulation-based sensitivity analysis of various telework scenarios across four archetype homes and a medium-sized office. Finally, a survey is conducted to further inform the simulations and accurately quantify emissions. The sample includes government employees in Quebec and Ontario (National Capital Region (NCR)). With more than 1500 participants, GHG emissions along with scope 3 emissions are calculated and estimated for the sample size. The results demonstrate that emissions from in-person work are 34% and 181% more than remote work in NCR and Quebec, respectively. Across domains, transportation has the highest potential to reduce emissions among teleworkers. Homes are the dominant source of emissions in Ontario due to the use of natural gas while transportation is the dominant source in Quebec since most home heating systems are electric. Overall, findings suggest teleworking can be a more sustainable alternative if stakeholders adopt environmentally responsible practices across all domains. Besides addressing the current knowledge gap, the outcome of this thesis is the first comprehensive and systematic study on the impact of teleworking on four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet. The results of this thesis will help policymakers to make an informed decision regarding adopting hybrid working models in order to reduce energy use and the carbon footprint and take a step towards achieving 2050 net zero goals.","abstract_html":"Telework was introduced in 1980s as an alternative work arrangement with the aim of reducing transportation. Telework primarily impacts four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet in terms of energy use and emissions. Previous studies mostly focused on a single domain but savings from one domain can be offset by another domain, resulting in different and even contradictory results in the current literature. Therefore, this thesis aims to quantify the overall impact of teleworking on the four domains simultaneously to reach a conclusion regarding the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with telework. To achieve this, the current thesis utilizes a mixed-methods approach to inform simulations and to quantify emissions. It begins with a comprehensive literature review and interviews to identify existing gaps. This is followed by a simulation-based sensitivity analysis of various telework scenarios across four archetype homes and a medium-sized office. Finally, a survey is conducted to further inform the simulations and accurately quantify emissions. The sample includes government employees in Quebec and Ontario (National Capital Region (NCR)). With more than 1500 participants, GHG emissions along with scope 3 emissions are calculated and estimated for the sample size. The results demonstrate that emissions from in-person work are 34% and 181% more than remote work in NCR and Quebec, respectively. Across domains, transportation has the highest potential to reduce emissions among teleworkers. Homes are the dominant source of emissions in Ontario due to the use of natural gas while transportation is the dominant source in Quebec since most home heating systems are electric. Overall, findings suggest teleworking can be a more sustainable alternative if stakeholders adopt environmentally responsible practices across all domains. Besides addressing the current knowledge gap, the outcome of this thesis is the first comprehensive and systematic study on the impact of teleworking on four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet. The results of this thesis will help policymakers to make an informed decision regarding adopting hybrid working models in order to reduce energy use and the carbon footprint and take a step towards achieving 2050 net zero goals.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sepanta, Farzam"],"institution":"Carleton University","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":"Engineering, Building","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025","date_published":"2025","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:34:24Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright © 2025 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, distribution to students, research and scholarship. Theses may only be shared by linking to the Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be copied without proper attribution to the author; no part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["10.22215/etd/2025-16659"],"render_values":[{"text":"10.22215/etd/2025-16659","href":"https://doi.org/10.22215/etd/2025-16659","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14718/44026","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sepanta, Farzam"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-31T18:39:26Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-07-31T18:39:26Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Carleton University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Engineering, Building"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright © 2025 the author(s). 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Theses may only be shared by linking to the Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be copied without proper attribution to the author; no part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["10.22215/etd/2025-16659"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14718/44026"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Telework was introduced in 1980s as an alternative work arrangement with the aim of reducing transportation. Telework primarily impacts four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet in terms of energy use and emissions. Previous studies mostly focused on a single domain but savings from one domain can be offset by another domain, resulting in different and even contradictory results in the current literature. Therefore, this thesis aims to quantify the overall impact of teleworking on the four domains simultaneously to reach a conclusion regarding the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with telework. To achieve this, the current thesis utilizes a mixed-methods approach to inform simulations and to quantify emissions. It begins with a comprehensive literature review and interviews to identify existing gaps. This is followed by a simulation-based sensitivity analysis of various telework scenarios across four archetype homes and a medium-sized office. Finally, a survey is conducted to further inform the simulations and accurately quantify emissions. The sample includes government employees in Quebec and Ontario (National Capital Region (NCR)). With more than 1500 participants, GHG emissions along with scope 3 emissions are calculated and estimated for the sample size. The results demonstrate that emissions from in-person work are 34% and 181% more than remote work in NCR and Quebec, respectively. Across domains, transportation has the highest potential to reduce emissions among teleworkers. Homes are the dominant source of emissions in Ontario due to the use of natural gas while transportation is the dominant source in Quebec since most home heating systems are electric. Overall, findings suggest teleworking can be a more sustainable alternative if stakeholders adopt environmentally responsible practices across all domains. Besides addressing the current knowledge gap, the outcome of this thesis is the first comprehensive and systematic study on the impact of teleworking on four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet. The results of this thesis will help policymakers to make an informed decision regarding adopting hybrid working models in order to reduce energy use and the carbon footprint and take a step towards achieving 2050 net zero goals."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Quantitative Assessment of Energy and Emissions Impacts of Teleworking on the Four Domains of Homes, Offices, Transportation, and the Internet"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Sepanta, Farzam"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-07-31T18:39:26Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-07-31T18:39:26Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025"],"dc:description.abstract":["Telework was introduced in 1980s as an alternative work arrangement with the aim of reducing transportation. Telework primarily impacts four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet in terms of energy use and emissions. Previous studies mostly focused on a single domain but savings from one domain can be offset by another domain, resulting in different and even contradictory results in the current literature. Therefore, this thesis aims to quantify the overall impact of teleworking on the four domains simultaneously to reach a conclusion regarding the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with telework. To achieve this, the current thesis utilizes a mixed-methods approach to inform simulations and to quantify emissions. It begins with a comprehensive literature review and interviews to identify existing gaps. This is followed by a simulation-based sensitivity analysis of various telework scenarios across four archetype homes and a medium-sized office. Finally, a survey is conducted to further inform the simulations and accurately quantify emissions. The sample includes government employees in Quebec and Ontario (National Capital Region (NCR)). With more than 1500 participants, GHG emissions along with scope 3 emissions are calculated and estimated for the sample size. The results demonstrate that emissions from in-person work are 34% and 181% more than remote work in NCR and Quebec, respectively. Across domains, transportation has the highest potential to reduce emissions among teleworkers. Homes are the dominant source of emissions in Ontario due to the use of natural gas while transportation is the dominant source in Quebec since most home heating systems are electric. Overall, findings suggest teleworking can be a more sustainable alternative if stakeholders adopt environmentally responsible practices across all domains. Besides addressing the current knowledge gap, the outcome of this thesis is the first comprehensive and systematic study on the impact of teleworking on four domains of homes, offices, transportation, and the internet. The results of this thesis will help policymakers to make an informed decision regarding adopting hybrid working models in order to reduce energy use and the carbon footprint and take a step towards achieving 2050 net zero goals."],"dc:identifier.doi":["10.22215/etd/2025-16659"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14718/44026"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Carleton University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright © 2025 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, distribution to students, research and scholarship. Theses may only be shared by linking to the Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be copied without proper attribution to the author; no part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner."],"dc:title":["Quantitative Assessment of Energy and Emissions Impacts of Teleworking on the Four Domains of Homes, Offices, Transportation, and the Internet"],"dc:type":["thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Engineering, Building"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:34:24Z"}