Teleworking arrived with the pandemic and it is here to stay. Many are the comforts that it provides us and few are the disadvantages. Perhaps the most significant is the expense of keeping the lights on, the heating, the WiFi… Without a doubt, the daily use of these elements can mean an increase in our electricity bill at the end of the month. However, there are formulas to reduce this consumption. We tell you!
Use only the light you need
Although it is a solution for those who have windows or access to the outside, a good way to reduce electricity costs is to install our work tools in the room that receives the most natural light throughout the day. If you do not have this option, you can also opt for efficient light devices. These devices are designed to work in such a way that they offer good light quality at the lowest cost. An example would be to replace incandescent bulbs with other less energy like LED bulbs.
In addition to consuming electricity through light, you will also do so by charging your computer. A good way to reduce this consumption is by configuring the computer to work in saving mode. This mode will use energy efficiently, reducing, among other things, the power of our computer’s processor to save energy, we could also activate the possibility of reducing the brightness of our monitor somewhat.
Another good way to consume less battery is by emptying the computer’s memory, since when it is full, it not only slows down the work, but also increases power consumption. Finally, if we turn off the PC at the end of the day we will avoid what is known as phantom consumption. Many people choose to “stand by” their computer, however, this causes quite significant consumption over the weeks and months.
Control the heating temperature
Working at a pleasant temperature is essential to achieve a good level of work. For this reason, we should not abuse heating in those winter months in which temperatures plummet or, on the contrary, in the summer months where we abuse air conditioning units.
If we follow the recommendations of the experts, the thermostat temperature should be kept between 19 and 21 degrees in winter. While in summer it should be maintained between approximately 23 and 25 degrees. By doing this, we would be reducing energy consumption by up to 20%. In turn, it is important to keep doors and windows closed in winter to prevent heat from escaping from the house.
Use off-peak hours
Another of the consequences of teleworking is that we cook more at home. By turning on the ceramic hob or gas daily, we are adding consumption to our bill that, possibly, we did not have before teleworking. One way to reduce this expense is to use off-peak hours, which is when electricity is cheaper. In Spain, in general, it is situated in the time slot from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., but this depends on each day, in addition, today the regulated market rates are not at all recommendable because they are clearly more expensive than the free market rates.
With these simple tips on energy efficiency you will be able to reduce electricity and gas consumption in your home while you telework. Also, once you get used to doing it, you will do it almost without realizing it. Who will notice it will be your pocket at the end of the month!
