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Assessing Commuting Energy and Emissions Savings through Remote Working and Carpooling: Lessons from an Italian Region

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  • Michel Noussan

    (Decisio BV, Valkenburgerstraat 212, 1011 ND Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Matteo Jarre

    (Decisio BV, Valkenburgerstraat 212, 1011 ND Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Effective solutions are needed to decrease the greenhouse gases emissions of the transport sector, not only in terms of supply-side measures, but also including demand-side solutions. This paper focuses on the passenger demand related to daily commuting, either for work or study purposes. A bottom-up analysis is presented, which draws from detailed data for Lombardy, the most populous region in Northern Italy, to build an estimate of the annual energy consumption and emissions related to commuting. The potential of different measures to decrease emissions is evaluated, including the renovation of the vehicle stock, higher levels of remote working, and the deployment of carpooling schemes. The results show that the largest part of the current emissions from commuting is caused by car use, both due to its higher modal share and to the higher specific emissions, which are in turn also contributed by the low occupancy rates. The renewal of the current vehicle stock can lead to significant emission savings, thanks to both improved efficiency and higher shares of electrification. Remote working could also play a significant part, especially when it is applied to workers that face the longest commuting distances. Conversely, carpooling seems to be providing lower benefits, not so much because of lower effectiveness but more so because of constraints and barriers to its implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Noussan & Matteo Jarre, 2021. "Assessing Commuting Energy and Emissions Savings through Remote Working and Carpooling: Lessons from an Italian Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:21:p:7177-:d:670263
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    Cited by:

    1. Michel Noussan & Edoardo Campisi & Matteo Jarre, 2022. "Carbon Intensity of Passenger Transport Modes: A Review of Emission Factors, Their Variability and the Main Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, August.
    2. María del Carmen Rey-Merchán & Antonio López-Arquillos & Manuela Pires Rosa & Jesús Manuel Gómez-de-Gabriel, 2022. "Proposal for an Institutional Carpooling System among Workers from the Public-Education Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-10, November.
    3. Noussan, Michel & Negro, Viviana & Prussi, Matteo & Chiaramonti, David, 2024. "The potential role of biomethane for the decarbonization of transport: An analysis of 2030 scenarios in Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    4. Lambros Mitropoulos & Annie Kortsari & Emy Apostolopoulou & Georgia Ayfantopoulou & Alexandros Deloukas, 2023. "Multimodal Traveling with Rail and Ride-Sharing: Lessons Learned during Planning and Demonstrating a Pilot Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.

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