If you’re reading this article you’re probably already concerned with your carbon footprint. But, whether that’s turning off the lights when you leave the room or reducing your programmable thermostat when you’re not at home, telecommuting can still be a drain on your energy source.
Throughout the Alameda, Contra Costa and Tri-Valley area there are many telecommuters. Those that may be work in the bay area but choose to stay home to do most of their business. This is a great way to save money on gas and car maintenance but it also means that you are using energy sources in your home a lot more often. If you’re looking to reduce your energy costs in the home, without sacrificing your work day, here are some things to consider.
#1. Turn off your computer for the day or run sleep mode.
Most computers have a number of power mode features that can save money on energy bills. This could be a standby or passive mode or you can simply turn it off at the end of the day when you’re not working. This also keeps your mind free from those nagging emails that may keep popping up.
#2. Use a backup server.
If you have many servers in your home you might be able to consolidate all of that into one central server. This puts all of your important work on a server and backs it up every single day.
#3. Consider a laptop.
If you are like me, you probably have your central computer and two or three monitors up at all times. This it drains energy and usage on all of these devices. You might consider switching to a laptop that’s more energy efficient and can move around the house with you.
#4. Make sure there are energy-saving power strips on all devices.
This not only saves energy but it could save your work in case of a power outage. There’s nothing worse than being three hours into a project only to have the power go out and you’ve lost everything.
#5. Do you really need to print?
I used to print everything from simple invoices to every PDF that came across my email, but now, I have electronic files and folders for all of these items so that it saves my actual file folders for the more important things that need to be printed and I’m not wasting energy costs by running a printer or buying extra ink. [adapted from source]
Working from home is a great idea but it can drain the energy in your home quite quickly. Try some of these easy to handle fixes. If you’re looking for a home to purchase that’s perfect for an in-home business or a live/work condominium contact my office today.
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