International Energy Agency's Calculations on How WFH Can Reduce Fuel Consumption
The Indonesian government has decided on a work-from-home (WFH) scheme to save energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) explains that WFH could cut car petrol consumption by 2-6% at the national level.
Quoted from its official website on Wednesday (1/4/2026), the IEA recommends WFH as an energy-saving measure. WFH is assessed to have an impact on efforts to save fuel for private vehicles.
“Working from home can reduce oil consumption from private vehicles used for commuting. Although not all jobs are suitable for working from home, this can be an effective step if the job allows it,” writes the France-based organisation.
In its research, it is explained that private car petrol consumption is quite high. The IEA has simulated that three days of WFH could reduce national car petrol consumption by up to 2-6%.
“Round-trip commutes account for between 5% and 30% of car activity in various regions. Since not all jobs are suitable for working from home, at the national level, three additional remote working days (WFH) for those whose jobs allow it can reduce oil consumption from cars by 2-6%,” it states.
This petrol consumption could be saved further if WFH is increased. Petrol consumption could even be cut by up to 20%.
“If the average individual driver switches from no remote working to three remote working days in a five-day workweek, their private car oil consumption can be reduced by up to 20%,” it continues.
The IEA recommends that governments encourage businesses to allow their employees to work from home and mandate public officials to work from home where possible, and close public buildings on certain days.
As is known, in a press conference on Tuesday (31/3/2026), the government has outlined the WFH rule for one day per week for civil servants. WFH for civil servants has been decided to apply every Friday.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said that WFH for private sector employees will be adjusted to the characteristics and needs of each business sector. For the private sector, this one day per week WFH is a recommendation.
“Why Friday is chosen is because some ministries have already done that with four-day workweeks using applications, this is post-COVID,” explained Airlangga in a virtual press conference.
Airlangga stated that the policy of one day per week WFH for civil servants up to WFH for private sector employees has the potential to save fuel compensation worth trillions of rupiah.
“The potential savings from this work-from-home policy that directly benefits the state budget is Rp 6.2 trillion in the form of fuel compensation savings,” said Airlangga.
In addition to Indonesia, several other countries are also implementing WFH. Some of them include Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Egypt.