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
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.
