With millions of North Americans starting up home-based businesses, commuting costs and traditional office maintenance fees tend to go down. Though, home office expenses and energy consumption in the home will be on the rise for those home office workers that are not doing anything to mitigate their energy usage. Here are a few money saving tips to keep your home office running smoothly and eco-consciously:
– If you are just starting out, or if you are upgrading your home office equipment, it’s worthwhile to look into the energy ratings on products. Choose energy efficient (think Energy Star) whenever possible. Some office equipment can provide up to 90% in energy savings compared to its non-energy-saving competition.
– Keep things simple by plugging all of your office equipment into one efficient power bar. This way, when you go to power-down for the night, it will be an easy task, and remembering to turn off every last button will not need to be a concern.
– Little bits of time can really add up, with some statistics showing that people who use power-saving modes on their computers over their lunch breaks can save between $25 and $75 per year on their energy bills. This doesn’t seem like very much, but when you add up all the equipment in your home office, the energy savings can be remarkable.
– If you don’t already do it, be sure to print all your documents double-sided. This saves money, trees, and energy in the grand scheme of things.
– In order to maximize natural energy, always open windows instead of turning on the lights, whenever possible. In addition, use energy-efficient light bulbs, which can save up to 85% of energy consumption compared to normal light bulbs, and they are convenient because they can have years of usage time before they wear out.
As can be seen, there are a number of ways that you can save energy and money just by being mindful of your energy consumption. It only takes a baby step, here and there, and you will be sure to make a difference in the state of the planet and the amount of your utility bill. Happy Earth Day to you!
Comments 1
Thanks for the great share! I also like the idea of Home Energy. The best part I like is this: The reliability and availability of modern energy sources cause people to tend to assume that it will always be accessible. And as for the case of non-renewable energy sources, most people do not know or maybe even refuse to accept that it will eventually run out.