If you frequently work from home, your utility expenses can go up because it takes a lot of energy to run a home office.
Since they no longer have to commute to a corporate office, remote workers have saved countless hours of travel time and thousands of dollars on petrol, auto maintenance, and other costs. However, working from home has the unintended consequence of raising costs in other areas.
Remote workers are more plugged in than ever to their computers, monitors, phones, printers, and other vital devices, significantly increasing the electricity used at home. According to a Time Magazine story, recent research revealed that remote employees experienced an average rise in energy expenses of $40–$50 per month. That shouldn’t be shocking given how many devices we use for both personal and professional purposes:
Chargers for computers and cell phones
- Printers
- TVs
- Monitors
- Wi-Fi extenders and boosters
It has never been more crucial to consider energy efficiency for the home office as individuals continue to work from home. While energy expenses may have formerly been cheaper for most homes during a typical workday, energy usage has increased for most properties as more individuals now work full-time from home.
The staff at Ak Static, a top provider of domestic electrical services in Sydney that includes home office lighting installations, is aware of how crucial energy efficiency is for workplaces. We have compiled a list of power-saving advice for home offices to help you lower your energy costs without sacrificing comfort or productivity.
5 Tips for Power Saving in Your Home Office
When working from home, take into account the following strategies and advice to save energy and money:
1. Make Use of Efficient Lighting And Natural Light
You can work comfortably without using any lights for most of the day if your home office receives a lot of natural light. Use CFL or LED bulbs if you need to turn on the lights. These bulbs save you money by producing less heat and using less energy than fluorescent bulbs while still providing excellent light coverage.
2. Employ Effective Technology
Your office’s IT choices could significantly affect how much energy you use. Laptops typically use about 50% less energy than desktop computers, making them an effective option for most tasks. Modern high-efficiency units could be a good option if you utilize monitors or other devices while working because they use less energy while still performing well.
3. Take Charge of Your HVAC Systems
While at work, your heater or air conditioner was probably off during the day. Still, to keep your space pleasant, it will need to remain on for most of the day. Consider purchasing a smart thermostat to guarantee that the temperature in your office remains comfortable throughout the day. While maximizing the effectiveness of your HVAC system, these units enable you to maintain comfort in your home.
4. Print When Required
Power usage by printers while printing is quite high, especially for large workloads. Printing is less popular and required than it once was due to the availability of so many efficient programs and digital viewing choices for papers. Printing just when necessary can help you conserve energy and resources.
5. Turn off All of Your Devices
Only use your devices for work when they are actually required. Make careful to shut off your electronics and unplug your laptop charger after the day is through. Doing this ensures your computer, monitors, and other devices are not consuming too much power when not in use.
Contact the experts at Ak Static to learn more about our residential and commercial electrical services.
You can get in touch with us through our online contact form, and we’ll be pleased to address any inquiries you might have about our services or the specifics of your project.