Working from home has become the norm for a lot of people across the UK, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent statistics show that in April 2020, 46.6% of people that were employed in the UK did at least some work at home. With the UK in another lockdown at the beginning of 2021, lots of staff members are going to be continuing to work from home for the foreseeable future.
When people are home working, it results in the use of more energy and if you’re trying to keep your energy bills down or reduce your carbon emissions, assessing what you’re using and making changes can really help make your home working more energy efficient.
Take a look at some of our top tips for making your home more energy efficient. We’re proud to have over 15 years experience in the energy industry, and can help you to determine how to make your home more efficient. Get in touch with us today to discover how we can help.
Try to avoid working longer hours
Whilst it can be difficult if you’re busy, try limiting yourself to just working within your designated working hours, whether this is a traditional 9-5 schedule or a more flexible arrangement. Keeping your equipment on for longer will use more energy, therefore cost you more.
If you are working longer hours, or just when you’re working in general, don’t forget to turn off any plugs or equipment that isn’t being used. Just having something plugged in and on standby is using energy, so make sure you’re not wasting any and just switch it off.
Find the right space for your home office
When choosing a room for your home office, think about which room has the most natural light as this will not only ensure you don’t need to waste energy by having the light on all day, it could boost your mood too.
If you don’t have any rooms that have lots of natural light, then ensure your light bulbs in your desk lamp or any other lights are LEDs, as they are far more energy efficient than halogen bulbs. LED light bulbs use about 75% less energy and last years longer than halogen and incandescent bulbs.
Review where energy is being lost
If your home feels cold throughout the day, or you notice cold spots in certain rooms then it’s highly likely that you’re losing energy and money through an inefficient area in your home.
Tests such as air tightness testing or thermographic testing can identify where there are cold spots in your home and determine areas which need work to improve this. Once improvements are made, this will make your overall home more efficient and stop energy being wasted.
Turn the heating down
Even turning the heating down a couple of degrees can make a huge difference to your energy bills and save on wasted energy. Look at wrapping up warm by choosing warm jumpers and socks rather than turning the heating up in the first instance.
You can also think about getting a smart thermostat too. These allow you to easily change the temperatures and set up efficient schedules to stop home energy waste.
Use energy efficient office equipment
When working from home, take a look at the equipment you’re using and assess how energy efficient it is. If you’re self employed then look at investing in some energy saving equipment, such as modern laptops and desktop computers known for their efficiency and will reduce your overall energy usage.
If you’re employed by a company, see if they can upgrade their equipment to more energy saving models. Newer models tend to be far more efficient than older computers and laptops, however, looking for equipment that uses the ‘Energy Star’ rating will ensure it has a low energy consumption. The Energy Star Certification proves that the equipment has been independently verified as being efficient and will save energy and money when used.
Assess your food and drink habits
One of our biggest energy saving tips is to think about the food and drink you consume throughout the day. If you like to enjoy hot cups of tea regularly, fully filling and boiling the kettle several times a day uses a large amount of energy.
Consider either only filling it up a small amount each time, so you’re not boiling excess water, or make a big batch of tea or coffee first thing and keep it in an insulated thermal flask all day. This way you can save energy on the amount of times you boil your kettle whilst working from home.
Another way to save energy when working from home is to batch cook meals so that you’re using the oven or hob less during the day.
Get in touch
If you’d like to improve the energy efficiency of your home, or get some advice on the best ways to save energy, then give us a call today on 01403 253439.