The latest lockdown restrictions have caused many businesses to close their doors once again and allow employees to operate remotely. Although homeworking can provide money-saving benefits such as not having to pay for petrol, parking fees, or eating out, your utility expenses could soar.
Instead of relying on the office electricity for lighting throughout the day, central heating, and boiling kettles, it'll fall onto your personal energy bill for the time being. In a previous survey, 72% of respondents said their energy usage had increased during lockdown, which could lead to an average energy bill rise of over £32 per month.
However, fortunately you can reduce this payment by using your household energy wisely to accommodate your working from home habits.
Don't leave appliances on standby
If you have to operate from an electrical device, don't leave them on standby after working hours. Turning appliances off at the switch can save an average of £35 each year. Also, unplug your laptop or mobile phone once fully charged to avoid wasting energy.
Smart heating controls
Investing in a smart thermostat allows you to heat 'zones' of your property, such as the home office, during working hours. This feature ensures you're only using energy to heat rooms when they're in use. Smart thermostats can also provide energy reports to help you decipher where you can lower your usage and make small but valuable savings. Turning down the thermostat by just 1 degree could trim another £60 off your yearly bills, without you even noticing the temperature drop.Get your boiler serviced
Central heating and hot water occupy around 82% of household energy usage, so to keep this cost down, you need to conduct boiler care. When a boiler runs inefficiently, it'll cause your energy bills to increase rapidly. The best way to maintain the quality of the appliance is with an annual service. A Gas Safe Registered engineer will alert you to any faults that could become dangerous or costly.
If your boiler has passed its peak and needs replacing, you can use the 'find a boiler' tool on BOXT to discover which model is most suitable for your home. All newly fitted boilers are condensing, which can achieve over 90% energy efficiency and lower your yearly energy bills by £200.
Limit hot lunches
Whether you ate out for lunch or not while working in an office, it's hard to resist cooking a hot meal when at home. To use less energy, batch cook a few days worth of food at the beginning of the week that you can reheat in a microwave.
At-home lunches also mean more washing up. Instead of letting the tap run while you clean the dishes, fill a washing up bowl and save up to £25 each year.
Open your curtains
Letting natural light fill the room during the day minimises the need for artificial lighting, which is another factor in increasing energy bills. If your workspace doesn't have a window, remember to turn the lights off when you finish working to save a further £15.
While not all these energy-saving methods predict huge savings, they can all add up and help you lower costs during the most expensive time of the year.
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