“When you organize it, it can be a real lever for reducing energy consumption”, according to Agnès Pannier-Runacher

“When we organize teleworking well, it can be a real lever for reducing collective energy consumption”pleaded the Minister for Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher on Wednesday April 5 on franceinfo. “The rebound effect among employees is minimal” but it won’t be “imposed measure”defended the minister.

>> Sobriety plan: teleworking offers real potential for energy savings, but under certain conditions, according to a study

Agnès Pannier-Runacher wishes to encourage companies to organize teleworking within the framework of the “social dialogue” to enable effective energy savings. If telework has only a weak impact on energy consumption when only part of the employees are absent, according to a study by the Agency for the environment and energy management (Ademe), on the other hand, it allows significant overall energy savings when the site is completely closed for the day.

“When teleworking is well organized, the rebound effect among employees is minimal”explained the Minister. “We can clearly see that each company has its own particular mode of operation, that companies require face-to-face work and that suddenly, each company must arrange telework in a different way”nuanced Agnès Pannier-Runacher, adding that it was “work that must be done as close as possible to companies”.

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5%

The Minister also welcomed the 2.5% drop in France in 2022 in greenhouse gas emissions. “When we act, it works”, she rejoiced. Greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for global warming, have fallen by “8.5% and even 15% in the tertiary and residential sector in the fourth quarter of 2022”detailed the minister. “This is the effect of the sobriety plan launched by the government”, she commented.

“We stick to our goals”welcomed the minister who admitted, however, that these actions are insufficient in view of the climate emergency. “We are going to have to revise our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions upwards”, she added. France has committed to reducing its emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990, and to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.