[Free Guide] 7 Energy Saving Tips When Working From Home

During this unprecedented time, many of us are opting to work from home, or for some people, it is a mandatory directive. Whether this is a common practice for some people or is an entirely new experience for others, we have a range of energy tips for working from home productively and some practical tips to help save on your energy usage as well.

Use a laptop instead of a desktop

If possible, try using a laptop instead of a desktop computer. Laptops use up to 80% less energy than a desktop computer. These days there are many energy-saving options for laptops. Try dimming the screen to prolong the battery life during the day. Having a cup of coffee or a lunch break? Put your laptop into sleep mode or shut down when you are away from the screen. You can also adjust your laptop’s energy-saving options to help get you through the day without needing to charge.

Open windows instead of using artificial lights

Why keep the lights on when you have a free source right outside your window? Open up the blinds and curtains and let the natural light brighten up your day. It will reduce your energy usage and may also help you focus more. Studies have found that optimising the amount of natural light in an office significantly improves health and wellness among workers, leading to gains in productivity.

Don’t have the TV on in the background

We’re sure many people can relate to this… having the TV on in the background, even if it’s not being watched is a very common occurrence. Switch off the TV and maybe open up Spotify or Apple Music and get your favourite tunes playing. You’ll probably find you maybe even more productive working from home and your day will just fly by!

Recharge your laptop and phone at night

Depending on what tariff type you have, charging devices at night time can be a real cost saver. If you have a Time of Use or Off-Peak tariff, your energy rates could be lower at night so why not take advantage of these times while you can? You could also do a quick audit of the charging devices you have around the house and work out which ones need charging and which don’t. If you have multiple chargers plugged in around the house, consider unplugging them as they still draw power even if they aren’t in use.

Try to do conference calls in the morning

Having a conference call in the morning is a great idea as your wifi connection may slow down later in the day due to more activity on the network. It may also help you plan your day so you know exactly what needs to be done and when.

Create a home office

If possible, try making a dedicated room of the house your home office. If you have other people in the house with you, it will help keep distractions to a minimum and keep you more focused on your daily tasks. Again, where possible, use natural light to brighten the room. Opening windows can help cool your environment instead of using your air conditioner. Heating or cooling one room will be far more efficient than heating or cooling a large communal area.

Minimise your hardware

Evaluate your home office set up and if that second monitor isn’t required, unplug it and save electricity. Not planning on using your printer any time soon? Unplug that too. If you are all done for the day, make sure you shut down any computers or devices that you won’t be using. In addition to saving energy, shutting down your computer will extend its lifespan, improve computer performance, protect it from power surges and allow for fewer disruptions during your downtime.

Working from home, whether it is your choice or a necessary scenario for your workplace, can be challenging for some and rewarding for others. Some additional advantages or tips for working home productively could be replacing your usual commute time with exercise. Try going for a walk, doing some yoga or jump online and find some workout options that suit you. If you are finding it hard adjusting to working from home, keep in contact with other work colleagues or friends in the same situation. Try having a video chat or phone call. With technology these days, anything is possible.