The environmental benefits of telecommuting are derived primarily from the reduction of single-occupancy vehicles traveling during peak commuting times. It is, therefore, useful to explore the significant economic and environmental costs of cars to make an argument for the advantages of telecommuting. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that most of this travel is done without car-pooling. The Environmental Costs Six of the seven pollutants for which the Environmental Protection Agency has developed health standards come from automobiles. For both carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, automobiles are the number one source of air emissions.
Carbon dioxide is the major contributor of global warming.
According to the National Environmental Trust, the effects of global warming over the next century include a projected six degree Celsius increase in average temperature and an increase of sea levels of approximately three feet. Additionally, these changes will cause an increased incidence of interior drought and communicable disease. Ozone and nitrous oxides contribute to an estimated annual crop yield loss of two to four billion dollars. Fuel evaporation during fueling and in hot weather causes increased ozone. An increase in traffic results in an increase in noise pollution.