As rising inflation rates continue to contribute to a cost of living crisis, people across the nation are doing everything they can to save money.
This is often easier said than done, especially for the over 1.7 million people in the UK who work from home. While remote working certainly helps ease the financial strain from rising prices, it opens the door to new expenses like increased grocery costs and higher energy bills.
If you’re a remote worker worried about saving money, learning to cut down your energy bills can make a significant difference in your household finances.
Below are six easy tips and tricks that will help you save energy while working from home:
Invest in a smart power strip
Chances are you are using more than just a laptop when you’re working at home. You are probably charging your phone, using a router, operating a printer and/or scanner, and a host of other electronic devices.
These devices draw power when plugged in, even when they are in standby mode. Over time, this can cause your energy bills to skyrocket. According to Energy Saving Trust, the average UK household spends £65 a year powering appliances in standby mode.
If you are going to be using multiple electronic devices while working from home, it could be a good idea to invest in a smart power strip. Using one of these tools will help you save energy day in and day out.
Seek out natural sunlight
Whenever possible, opt to use natural sunlight instead of switching on a light or a lamp. If you can open your blinds or curtains to let the natural light into your office space and try to avoid turning on lights, you will save money on your energy bills.
See how you can rearrange the furniture in your office/working space to maximise your exposure to natural light. If moving a desk or some plants around so that more light comes into your workspace means you will decrease your energy bill each month, it will be well worth the effort.
Use energy-efficient light bulbs
It’s not always possible to utilise natural light, especially during the winter months when sunlight is limited. When this is the case, using energy-efficient light bulbs can help you still save money.
Lighting makes up roughly 11% of the electricity consumption for the average UK household. By replacing inefficient light bulbs with LED lights, you will lower not only your environmental impact, but also your energy bill.
Energy Saving Trust estimates that replacing 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with LEDs can save roughly £7 per bulb per year, and replacing 50-watt halogen light bulbs with LEDs can save roughly £6 per bulb per year.
While it might seem a bit costly upfront, you will more than makeup for extra costs now when you invest in energy-efficient light bulbs, especially if you need to keep your lights on to work at home.
Adjust your computer’s sleep mode settings
When you take breaks during your work day, make sure your computer is set to go into energy saver mode or sleep mode to conserve energy.
If you are taking your lunch break, working on a project on a tablet, taking a phone meeting, or completing any other task where using your computer is not necessary, putting your computer in sleep mode will help you increase your energy efficiency and lower your energy bill.
Most computers allow you to adjust their sleep mode settings. Try to make it so your device will automatically enter sleep mode when you have 15 or 30 minutes of inactivity.
Pay attention to your heating controls
If you have a thermostat in multiple rooms in your home, try lowering the temperature in rooms that aren’t going to be in use while you’re working from home.
You can even try some of these tips to stay warm while working from home and lower the temperature in your workspace to help reduce your energy use.
Some more modern heating solutions even have the ability to detect when you’re not home and adjust the temperature accordingly.
Use your appliances efficiently
When you’re working from home all day, it is easier for you to run loads of laundry or use your dishwasher throughout the day.
These extra loads will take a toll on your energy bill if you’re not careful about using these appliances efficiently.
When washing laundry, remember that the washer uses the same amount of energy regardless of how many clothes are in the cycle.
While it may be tempting to just toss in a couple of items before your next meeting, it will be better for you to wait until you have the time to sort and load a full load of clothes into your washing machine.
Likewise, when you are using your dishwasher, make sure it is full before you run a load of dishes.
Next steps
While you might be spending more on your energy bills, working from home has many benefits. If you’re looking for a new job which doesn’t require travelling, browse our latest remote jobs