Telecommuting's impact on travel, energy use and air quality seems to be living up to its promise, say UC Davis researchers. For each person who works at home, about two gallons of gas are not burned, 26 miles are not driven and the air is slightly cleaner, according to a review of studies of public and private telecommuting programs. Contrary to some predictions, non-work travel has not increased, and so far telecommuters have not moved farther away from work. Telecommuting means bringing the work to the employee at or closer to home. This trendy commute alternative was boosted last year by two White House reports aimed at increasing government efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "The weight of evidence is pretty strong that telecommuting is a useful strategy for reducing peak-period travel," says UC Davis professor Patricia Mokhtarian, who directs a $2.8 million California telecommuting research project.