How to save energy when working from home

A great many of us are working or staying at home, and as a result we are using more energy around the house. Heating, lighting, cooking and using devices all add up. But there are ways to reduce our energy consumption.

Using your devices

Tip 1: Unplug chargers when not in use. Laptop chargers waste energy while sat idle, and the same goes for phone chargers and other devices.

Tip 2: Don’t leave anything on standby. TVs, set-top boxes, game consoles and screens silently run up your bill on standby. Switch everything off once you are done, even if you will use it later.

Tip 3: Monitor screen time. Set aside hours over lunch and the evening with no screen time. It is good for your energy use and for your eyes and concentration.

Tip 4: Switch things off and down. Reduce the volume on radios and speakers, and the brightness on your laptop. Be conscious of things on in the background.

Staying warm

Tip 5: Let in natural heat. Rather than reaching for the heating, open the curtains and blinds and work near a window. Sunlight warms a room fast and is free.

Tip 6: Get moving when you can. Short bursts of light exercise, stretching or a walk to the kitchen warm your muscles and let you feel your body’s natural heat.

Tip 7: Have layers handy. A jumper, slippers and a knee blanket beat switching the heating on once the morning chill has passed.

In the kitchen

Tip 8: Don’t overfill and re-boil the kettle. These everyday habits are slow drains on your electricity.

Tip 9: Defrost food and leftovers on the side. Letting food reach room temperature cuts the time and energy needed to heat it.

Tip 10: Fridge and freezer overhauls. Defrost a compacted freezer and repack it efficiently. A well-packed fridge wastes less electricity.

Tip 11: Cook in batches. Cooking several days’ meals in one go limits how often you use the hob and oven.

Tip 12: Use the right pans. Pick a pan size relative to what you are cooking and keep lids on to conserve heat.

Keeping clean

Tip 13: Air dry laundry. Dry laundry on the line or a rack rather than a tumble dryer, which is expensive to run.

Tip 14: Time your showers. A timer near the shower makes you aware of how long you take and encourages you to cut it down.

Tip 15: Let steam out the windows. Leave the windows open while using the bathroom rather than running the extractor fan in daylight.

We hope these ideas help you save energy while working from home.