There are many benefits to working from home – no commutes, regular weekday sleep-ins, being able to bring your pet to work, wearing your slippers (and maybe even your pyjamas) to the office…

But working from home more often can impact your household electricity bills. 

Work smarter not harder with these home energy saving tips to help reduce energy costs in your home office.  

1. Make the most of natural light and fresh air
   Be at one with nature by choosing a workspace that makes the most of natural sunlight and air. If your inside space is a little dark and gloomy, try working outside on the balcony or in the backyard for at least part of the day.
2. Switch to LED lights
   Lighting accounts for around 10% of the average household electricity bill. As well as turning off lights when you’re not in the room and using a lamp instead of a ceiling-full of downlights, upgrading to LED lights is simple way to save. LED lights use 75% less energy than old units and can last up to 10 times longer.
3. Make the most of auto-settings
   Adjust settings on your home-office devices to run in economy mode, automatically minimise power consumption when not being actively used, and to turn off after a set time. 
4. Choose portable devices
   Desktop computers use twice as much energy as laptops. Enough said.
5. Become a fan of fans
   Heating and cooling can account for up to 50% of your home energy bill. In warmer weather, swap power-hungry aircon for a pedestal fan that you can point directly at your home-office chair. Or stay cool wherever you are in the house with a desktop fan that plugs into your laptop’s USB socket.
6. Unplug devices when you’re fully charged
   Leaving your phone and laptop charging all day may not seem like a big deal but get into the habit of unplugging as soon as your tech hits 100%. Leaving phones or laptops plugged in will not only waste power, it can also degrade your device's battery.
7. Treat your feet and wrap up warm
   Let’s face it, you’re not likely to be slipping into stilettos any time soon. Avoid cranking up the heat (and your energy bills) and treat your feet to some cosy slippers or socks. And why not grab a blanket for your knees while you’re at it? Winter home-office chic never felt so good.
8. Reduce standby power consumption
   Switch power-guzzlers such as printers, computers and monitors off each night – powersave modes use almost as much energy as leaving your gadgets on and could be costing you up to $100 per year. Find out more about standby power and how you can save here.
9. Harness the power of solar energy
   With government incentives, solar PV systems can pay for themselves in several years and could help drastically reduce your power bills. Learn more about solar costs and payback times on the blog or visit our solar page to see if you can save.
10. Track electricity usage
    Get smart by comparing and tracking your electricity usage. You can set budgets and preview your next bill with Simply Energy’s Tracker. This free service draws real-time data from your smart meter, helping you take control of your energy usage and spend. No smart meter? No problem. Simply download Simply Energy’s MyAccount app for regular gas and electricity usage updates. 

References

Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources), Energy.gov.au

Choice.com.au, How to save energy while working from home