‘Work from home,’ encourages the world’s energy watchdog | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.‘Work from home,’ encourages the world’s energy watchdogComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...ScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ScienceNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Policy‘Work from home,’ encourages the world’s energy watchdogThe IEA is recommending measures to alleviate impending fuel shortages amid the war in Iran.The IEA is recommending measures to alleviate impending fuel shortages amid the war in Iran.by Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedMar 20, 2026, 12:14 PM UTCLinkShareGiftCath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesJess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.Many organizations have called employees back to offices following Covid-related lockdowns, but the Iran war and ensuing energy crisis may quickly see workers returning to work from home.The International Energy Agency (IEA) — an energy watchdog established to help safeguard global power supplies following the 1970s oil crisis — is pushing for governments, businesses, and households to adopt recommendations that aim to curb energy demands amid supply disruptions triggered by the conflict. The list of ten suggested actions identified in the IEA’s report includes encouraging people to work from home and/or drive slower to reduce fuel usage, and even switch from using gas hobs to electric cooking options.Here are all of the “immediate actions” being recommended by the IEA:1. Work from home where possible: displaces oil use from commuting, particularly where jobs are suitable for remote work.2. Reduce highway speed limits by at least 10 km/h: lower speeds reduce fuel use for passenger cars, vans and trucks.3. Encourage public transport: a shift from private cars to buses and trains can quickly reduce oil demand.4. Alternate private car access to roads in large cities on different days: number-plate rotation schemes can reduce congestion and fuel-intensive driving.5. Increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practices: higher car occupancy and eco-driving can lower fuel consumption quickly.6. Efficient driving for road commercial vehicles and delivery of goods: better driving practices, vehicle maintenance and load optimisation can cut diesel use.7. Divert LPG use from transport: shifting bi-fuel and converted vehicles from LPG to gasoline can preserve LPG for cooking and other essential needs.8. Avoid air travel where alternative options exist: reducing business flights can quickly ease pressure on jet fuel markets.9. Where possible, switch to other modern cooking solutions: encouraging electric cooking and other modern options can reduce reliance on LPG.10. Leverage flexibility with petrochemical feedstocks and implement short-term efficiency and maintenance measures: industry can help free up LPG for essential uses while reducing oil consumption through quick operational improvements.These actions primarily focus on reducing road transport, which the IEA reports accounts for around 45 percent of global oil demand. Gas prices surged in the US after the Trump administration and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28th, and the impact of prolonged military engagement is expected to make energy markets “more and more severe,” according to IEA executive director Fatih Birol.“We have recently launched the largest ever release of IEA emergency oil stocks – and I am in close contact with key governments around the world, including major energy producers and consumers, as part of our international energy diplomacy,” Birol said in a statement. “However, supply-side measures alone cannot fully offset the scale of the disruption. Addressing demand is a critical and immediate tool to reduce pressure consumers by improving affordability and supporting energy security.”The measures being pushed by the IEA are voluntary, so it’s up to global governments and companies to decide whether to heed such advice. Some countries have already implemented measures to reduce oil demand, but so far, not many of us have been ordered to return to working from our couches and kitchen counters.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedEnergyCloseEnergyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EnergyNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyPoliticsClosePoliticsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PoliticsScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ScienceTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWork anywhereCloseWork anywherePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Work anywhereMost PopularMost PopularBelkin’s wireless HDMI adapter freed me from a long annoying cable when I travelA rogue AI led to a serious security incident at MetaCasio’s new $600 calculator is a work of artTesla’s Full Self-Driving is on the cusp of a recallMarc Andreessen is a philosophical zombieThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The International Energy Agency (IEA) is advocating for a significant shift in global energy consumption patterns, driven by the disruption of oil supplies stemming from the conflict in Iran. As outlined in a recent report, the IEA is recommending a multi-faceted approach to mitigate impending fuel shortages and stabilize energy markets. These recommendations, designed to address immediate concerns, fall into ten categories, primarily focused on reducing demand for oil-based transportation. The core of the IEA’s strategy centers on encouraging widespread adoption of remote work practices, advocating for speed limit reductions to decrease vehicle fuel consumption, and promoting public transportation alternatives alongside strategies like carpooling and efficient driving. Furthermore, the IEA stresses the importance of adapting consumer behavior, such as shifting to electric cooking solutions and reducing air travel where feasible. A critical component of the plan involves leveraging flexibility within the petrochemical industry, suggesting short-term efficiency and maintenance measures to optimize supply chains. Notably, the IEA emphasizes that these actions are voluntary, yet are essential, given the scale of disruption anticipated from the conflict. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol highlights the agency’s immediate response, including the largest-ever release of IEA emergency oil stocks, alongside ongoing international energy diplomacy. Birol underscores that addressing demand is a “critical and immediate tool” alongside supply-side measures to alleviate pressure on consumers and ensure energy security. The IEA’s recommendations represent a pragmatic response to an evolving geopolitical landscape, positioning the organization as a key influencer in managing global energy flows.