We are going to dive into some ways that you can save energy from home. Keep your electricity bills low without sacrificing your comfort and capabilities in your home office.
The impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the world was unlike anything we have ever seen before. We were forced to adapt in every way we possibly could. Millions of people lost their jobs and reliable incomes. The little work we had left to do had to be done completely differently. For those that were lucky enough to keep their jobs and had the ability to work from home, there was a completely new atmosphere.
From Zoom meetings all day long. To movies on in the background with all the lights on in the home, Don’t even get me started when summer came around, constant air conditioning to stay comfortable… Everything that was happening was creating an increased usage of energy and electricity, making our bills more expensive in a time we could not afford any extra cost.
The average household spends about $2,000 a year on utility costs, according to the Energy.gov offices. With more people working from home on their laptops. Students logging on to their computers for e-learning classes. Families are bound to see an increase in their utility bills.
Many of us have been able to return to our offices and resume life in a pretty similar way. So, even with people returning to their offices, many people chose to continue their at-home work so they could keep some of those extra benefits, and some are still taking advantage of that possibility.
Myself included, with that being said, let’s dive right into some tips to save energy while working from home.
If you’re like me, you must not like to do your work in the dark. Having a good light while you are working is something we typically do not think about too much—we flip on the lights, and we do not waste any more time with it. However, instead of turning on the lights in the morning, try opening your blinds if you are in a room with a window!
Natural light is often brighter and more spread out than the lightbulbs in our light fixtures above our heads. You will not have to worry about any harsh shadows on your work. It also helps your body produce Vitamin D, putting you in a better mood! Open blinds can also help regulate the temperature in your home. This way, we save money by not using the lights until it is darker outside. It helps keep our thermostat at a more optimal temperature setting for our wallets.
This may not seem ideal during the summertime, with Florida’s hot and humid weather. Closing the blinds or curtains during the heat of the day and using lights instead is more ideal for your comfort level and thermostat regulation. However, you should consider switching your lightbulbs from incandescent to LED bulbs. LED bulbs are much more efficient (by about 75%!) and produce about 90% less heat. It is also more efficient to have one lamp for your workspace instead of a light for the entire room, and it gives you more direct light.
Lastly, be sure that you turn the lights off when you leave the room. It can be tough to remember, but that small extra step will save you money on your electricity bill each month, and you will be glad you were mindful.
Working from home means new technology and more devices invading your personal space. From working endlessly on computers to meet deadlines to children having to go to school virtually. Every new device means at least one new cord to connect to your outlets. Every new device also means more power sucked from the energy grid and onto your power bill. If you plug your devices into a power strip, or even better, a smart power strip, you can be more efficient with your energy in multiple ways.
Smart power strips are a relatively new introduction, but they can make it even easier for you to save money and cut power flow to devices that no longer need it. They have the ability to detect when a device has gone to sleep or been turned off, and it will cut power during those times to save you even more energy and money. These are especially helpful in places where you have devices like televisions, DVRs, desktop computers and monitors, and even chargers. They cost a bit more upfront, usually between $20-$40, but they can help to save you that extra $200 from phantom energy.
There are ways to reduce your energy bills without changing much about your current lifestyle and going solar is one of them! It provides your energy in a clean, renewable way. Also, one of the most cost-efficient ways to reduce your energy bills over time. Like many other energy-efficient changes that you can make, solar panels are a large investment. However, over a 25-year lifetime of solar panels, your system can save you between ten and thirty thousand dollars on your energy bills. Plus there’s federal tax credits and potential referral savings. Not to mention the amazing ways it can help the environment.
There are several benefits to going solar, and you can read about some of the main ones here.
US Solar is committed to giving every customer the best experience possible! From the moment they come in contact with our solar specialist and services to the moment their system is perfectly energized. Only the best and most efficient products are used. It is one of the fastest growing industries in the energy space. It continues to change homeowners’ lives by giving them independence over their energy and more money in their wallets.
You can become part of that change today by contacting a solar consultant!
