If you work from home, you save time and money because you don't have to commute. But you may also see an increase in your home energy bills because you're spending more time at home, using office equipment, water, lights, air conditioning or heating. These tips can help you save money in your home office.
Save Energy with Computers and Office Equipment
These days, home offices can have several pieces of equipment, which all use electricity. That can really add up! Here's what you can do to save energy with your home office equipment:
- Instead of having a screensaver come on when you're away from the computer, have it go into "sleep" mode - or simply turn the monitor off when you'll be away for awhile.
- Set other office equipment (such as printers, scanners, copiers and fax machines) to automatically switch into sleep mode when not active. Aside from saving energy, the equipment stays cooler which helps it last longer and saves on air conditioning costs.
- Keep infrequently used equipment turned off or unplugged, and only switch them on when needed.
- Use a power strip as a "central shut-off" for all your equipment when leaving the home office. You'll save up to 40 watts of stand-by power per device.
You can save energy and space with a multi-function device that combines print, copy, scan and fax functions into one machine. Look for the ENERGY STAR logo to make sure you're buying an energy efficient model. For all office equipment, ENERGY STAR qualified products use less energy to deliver similar performance and quality as standard models.
Learn more about saving energy in your home office.
Energy Efficient Office Lighting
The lights in most home offices are on for many hours each day, which uses lots of energy. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or ENERGY STAR qualified desk lamps and save 75% on lighting costs. CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs and provide high-quality lighting. Switch to ENERGY STAR qualified residential LED bulbs and save even more. They use 75% less energy than incandescents, and last 25 times longer.
Whichever light source you use, remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room. Also, save energy by unplugging phone chargers and power adapters once the device is charged or removed from the charger.
Useful Energy Efficient Solutions:
- Attic Attic Ventilation, Duct Sealing, Chimney Sealing
- Basement Retire your old refrigerator!, Dehumidifier, Water Heater
- Bathroom Vanity Lights, Light Switch, Vent Fan
- Bedroom Bed-Side Lamp, Light Switch, Room Air Conditioner
- Dining Room Light Fixture, Light Switch, Programmable Thermostat
- Heating and Cooling Systems Table Lamp, Light Switch ...
- Home Office Desk Lamp, Ducts, Electrical Outlets, Power Strip
- HVAC HVAC air conditioning. HVAC Maintenance. HVAC contractor.
- Kitchen Light Fixture, Light Switch, Floor Vents/Radiators
- Living Room Table Lamp, Ceiling Fan with Lighting, Light Switch
- Outside House A/C Unit, Porch Light, Thermal Boundary
- Energy Efficient Windows Replace or Renovate, Energy Efficient Window Treatments
We were unaware of what was involved in an energy audit and your audior took the time to explain everything. We were impressed with the report which told us the areas in which we need to take action on. He never pressured us to use any particular contractors, he just suggested that we go to the Building Energy Pros web site to select contractors of our own choice. He did an excellent job and we HIGHLY recommend the Building Energy Pros. We already have recommended them to several of our neighbors. Again, EXCELLENT JOB!
Cynthia Simpson
The Building Energy Pros auditor was very knowledgeable. I was VERY HAPPY with him. He promptly E-mailed my energy audit report to me and I will consider all of his recommendations.
Tom McGee
We found out that our house really has no energy problems. We are happy to know that we
Leslie Stewart
I was very satisfied with your energy auditor. He was very qualified and spent a great deal of time with me. The energy audit was very informative.
P.B.
The energy auditor was very good and helpful. He keeps in touch with me to answer any of my questions.
D.G.
I was very satisfied with my energy audit. The auditor gave me some tips on attic insulation that were very helpful.
R.G.
I was very satisfied with my energy audit. Thank you!
R.S.
Very good service! I am going to replace the windows as the auditor had suggested.
D.W.
I was very happy with the energy audit. THANKS!
A. M.
My energy audit was very helpful. Joe Dempsey, your auditor, identified some structural problems that I was not aware of and explained to me why I need more insulation.
J. F.
The auditor was EXCELLENT! He spent ALOT of time with me. I am going to take 3 to 4 of his suggestions and correct these small items to save on my energy bills.
M. B.
The auditor did a GREAT JOB! He knew a lot about older homes, which we have. The report was very comprehensive. Thank you!
Vicki Nez/at
Your energy auditor was very nice and helpful. He answered all of our questions. We will recommend Building Energy Pros to our friends and neighbors.
Katherine McCaffrey
The auditor did a TERRIFIC JOB! The report was FANTASTIC! I will make all the repairs he suggested. I will definitely recommend him to everyone I know that could benefit from a home energy audit.
Steve Sleigh, Chevy Chase
The energy auditor was very professional and I am very satisfied with both the energy audit and the report I received. I will be referring the Building Energy Pros.
Tim Clary
I was very satisfied with the auditor. He was great and gave me some very valuable information. I will refer him to people I know who may need a home energy audit.
Willie Gantt
Your home energy audit proved to be very informative and helpful. I was not aware of the updraft created inside our walls because of the balloon framing construction. You said that that can cause heat to be pulled out of the house with the draft going up inside the walls and should be re-mediated. You also said that the attic insulation was insufficient and that fiberglass batts can leave spaces for around the edges causing heat loss and that it should have blown in insulation on top of what was there to seal the whole attic and increase the r factor. After going over your findings and telling me how you would fix the problems you told me how I could do it myself with stuff from the Home Center and for a quarter of the cost. Well, I did. I went into the basement and filled the bottom of the wall joist with unfaced insulation where they set on the sill plate. I then cut one inch foam board the size for each space and set it in and the sealed the edges of that with expanding foam as well as the sill plate to the foundation. I also sealed the sill plate to the foundation where the joist ran along it, as well as the top of those joist where it made contact with the subflooring. Next I went to the home center and rented their blown insulation machine and got ten bales of the insulation. I filled the attic on top of the batt insulation with about six inches giving another r-19 factor on top of the r-19 that was there. You said that the blown in would also help seal the heat loss around the edges of the batt. The work in the basement cost $144.00 and the work in the attic cost $328.00. After the 30% federal energy tax credit it will end up costing me about $330.00, which you said I should recover in savings in the first year. Thank You for all your advice and expertise. You made me aware of things I should consider and did.
Tommy Thompson