Teleworking and residential relocation: modeling short- and long-term effects on daily mobility

Teleworking has been identified as a key potential means of reducing energy consumption associated with commuting. However, despite being one of the most well-known transport demand management measures, its overall impact remains uncertain. This study investigates the long-term effects of residential relocation on the short-term benefits of teleworking in terms of energy consumption related to daily mobility. Using a desegregated model (Mobisim-Soft) to simulate daily mobilities of four French cities, this paper quantitatively evaluates several teleworking and residential relocation scenarios. Results confirm that teleworking leads to a reduction in travel distances and associated energy consumption. However, the residential relocation effect is substantial, cancelling out more than half of telework’s energy savings. While the impact of teleworking remains positive or neutral in terms of energy savings, the study suggests that more attention should be paid to complementary strategies in order to maximise its positive effects in the context of ecological transition.