If you work from home as a freelance professional, or if you have already permanently incorporated the Home-Office in some areas of your company, surely there is an issue that worries you: the cost of electrical energy.
Although it is difficult to make calculations, due to the differences that exist between residential rates , it is estimated that during the first confinement by Covid-19, families spent an average of almost 30% in the payment of this service . And now, that there is already a regulation for teleworking and companies are obliged to pay a supplement for this type of costs, it is important to incorporate practices that allow a reduction in electricity consumption.
It is true, the Home-Office has allowed companies to be more cost-efficient, for example because they were able to reduce the office area, and the energy and connectivity costs in their facilities. But that does not mean that they can neglect the motivation of their employees, and their participation in the achievement of business objectives and greater profitability.
That is why today we want to share some tips for you to make smart use of electrical energy when you work from home, and for you to invite your employees to do the same. Take note!
When distributing equipment among employees who make Home-Office, or renovating computers, opt for laptops. And ideally, for those that have modern energy saving systems. Keep in mind that, on average, a laptop uses five times less electricity than a desktop computer.
Another very useful tip to reduce the cost of light is to adjust the sleep and power use settings of the computers when we are not working on it . For example, because a phone call came in, or we are reading a paper document. Find out how to make this adjustment on company computers, write a simple tutorial, and share it with all employees.
According to experts, connecting the computer, printer, cell phone and desk lamp to a single power source is very useful to save energy. Why? For a very simple reason: because by turning off that device, we make sure that everyone is disconnected from the electrical network. In the United States, it is estimated that the energy that is wasted in homes by equipment that is not in use and that remains connected to the network costs more than 100 dollars a year.
The following advice is to apply the same working hours for those who do Home Office and for those who remain developing their activities in the factory or office area of the company. That’s not only good in terms of communication and productivity, but it also allows everyone to make the most of the hours of natural light. In addition, it is ideal to work in bright rooms and locate desks near windows.
The light bulbs and LED bulbs use an optimal amount of electricity and can significantly reduce the amount of the electric bill. But they have a higher acquisition cost than incandescent bulbs in common use, so if you want to promote their use among your employees, it is important to reach an agreement with them.
In times of extreme cold or heat, energy consumption rises due to the use of electric heaters and air conditioners. To avoid the loss of the right temperature, it is essential to create smaller spaces and avoid air leaks, and for that there is nothing more practical and simple than closing the doors of the rooms.
Finally, if you want to obtain concrete results in the company’s electrical energy saving plan, you cannot rely only on the goodwill of your employees. I design incentive and award programs to promote best practices among those who make Home-Office and contribute to lower costs and profitability. For example, you can communicate each month who was the employee who spent the least on electricity, and offer at the end of the year an interesting prize for whoever achieved the lowest performance.
