Work-from-home may not save as much energy as Southeast Asia hopes

Southeast Asian governments promote remote work policies as a pragmatic response to energy scarcity, yet energy analysts express skepticism about actual savings. The shift from office-based work to home-based arrangements presents a complex energy equation: while reducing commercial building consumption and transportation emissions, it simultaneously increases residential electricity demand. Research suggests the net benefit may be considerably smaller than policymakers anticipate, challenging the assumption that widespread telecommuting alone can meaningfully address regional energy challenges.