13 Creative Ways to Save Energy at Home
EFFYDESK TEAMReducing waste, reusing what you’ve got and refraining from wasteful energy consumption can save the earth and your wallet in the long run. It’s time to save money and cut down on your electricity utility bills.
In today’s article, we’ll be focusing on how you can achieve the above through energy efficiency – the art of using less energy to perform the same task.
If you’re looking for new ways to cut down on energy costs, keep on reading for 13 creative ways to save energy at home.
Top 3 Ways to Reduce Energy Usage in Your Home Office
If you’ve ever wondered how to create an eco-friendly home office, here are our top 3 energy-saving tips illustrating how Canadians are working harder to cut down on wasteful energy consumption.
#1: Go Paperless
Who needs a full paper agenda when things can be emailed to them instead? Send emails instead of passing physical memos that might only get read once until it’s tossed into the bin.
Paperless communication is especially important now that online meetings are the way of life. Choosing to go paperless saves both paper and ink, and will cut down on the use of energy in your home.
#2: Print on Double-Side Settings
If printing is absolutely necessary, print on both sides of the paper.
Did you know there are even certain fonts, like Century Gothic, that use less ink than others? You can even cut up printed sheets to use as scrap paper for jotting down ideas later on!
#3: Print Smart
Printing is even better when you use paper made of post-consumer materials.
These products (paper, pencils, etc.) are made of materials that have been diverted from a landfill and recycled to make new items.
How to Conserve Energy & Reduce Your Electricity Bill
#4: Make Friends with Natural Light
Strategic decorating can make your home office seem spacious and bright! Save energy and make the most of natural light.
PRO TIP: Light-coloured walls, mirrors, and bright decor pieces can make the room brighter during the day, which means you won’t have to turn on all your lights until the evening.
#5: Unplug Electronics
Unplug electronics you aren’t using. (Psst, screensavers don’t save energy. Your energy bill costs may surprise you when you get into the habit of unplugging electronics.)
When you’re done working for the day, take a quick scan around your office to unplug desktop monitors, chargers, and lights--even if they’re turned off. This cuts down on both your energy use and your electricity bill.
#6: Switch Your Light Bulbs to LEDs
LED lights consume 80% less energy than regular incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, which significantly reduces your carbon footprint and your electricity bill!
Plus, LEDs can last for decades, which means less waste.
#7: Choose Earth-Friendly Cleaning Supplies
Clean your home office with earth-friendly supplies. How do you know if it’s earth-friendly? Check the labels on your products to make sure they’re free from harsh chemicals that could harm the environment.
Avoid labels on packaging that indicate toxic chemicals. Plant-derived or organic cleaning supplies are better for the earth, and for your home as well! Many of these companies also use eco-friendly packaging or support social causes.
#8: Go Green
Plant Friendly #EFFYSETUP featuring the Business Office Standing Desk with Oak White Tabletop and Black Frame
Decorate your home office with plants to give the place a relaxing atmosphere. Plants add a pop of colour, bring life to a room, and some even purify the air.
Going green with your favourite desktop plants can boost your mood while working so you can feel better while getting work done, too.
What Else Can You Do to Save Energy in Your Home?
#9: Take Shorter Showers
The shower is a place where a lot of energy can be used and wasted! Try to take quick showers and optimize the temperature with less hot water. This will take less power out of your water heater and that energy can be reserved for your next shower!
PRO TIP: Turn off the water faucet while brushing or flossing.
#10: Choose Eco-Friendly Furniture and Accessories
EFFYDESK’s eco-friendly standing desk is a great example of using local, recycled products to help contribute to a circular economy. Be sure to check out our environmentally friendly TerraDesk that will fit beautifully into your workspace.
#11: Choose Breathable Window Covers for Air Circulation
Want to skip the AC? PRO TIP: The type of window coverings you choose to use in your house can impact the room temperature with the light coming in through the windows.
Reduce heat by choosing cellular shades. Also known as “honeycomb shades”, these are a great energy efficient window covering option.
#12: Wash Laundry Using Cold Water; Air Dry if Possible
As you may have guessed, using cold water and maximizing your full loads of laundry in one go can help to conserve energy for your home. Better yet - air dry your laundry if possible!
#13: Turn Off Air Conditioning When Not Using It
Using a ceiling fan to cool down (instead of an air conditioner) can help to reduce the energy consumption in your home, depending on the kind of fan you’re using.
PRO TIP: If you prefer the power of an AC, look for a smart thermostat, as those come with smart sensors and algorithms to analyze heating and cooling data in your home that aim to help reduce your carbon footprint.
Want More Easy Ways to Go Green? EFFYDESK Can Help
EFFYDESK is Canada’s leading ergonomic office furniture company based in Vancouver, Canada. From cardboard upcycling ideas to ergonomic tips for working more productively, EFFYDESK is always looking to share new ways for desk-job workers to do good and feel good mentally and physically at the end of your work day.
Studies have shown that poor posture can lead to decreased productivity, motivation and performance at work. Knowing that our bodies are made to move, we're here to help you combat the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Whether you’re working from home or from the office, we offer a variety of ergonomic sit-stand desks, ergo office chairs and perfect-pairing office essentials to help you achieve your ideal sitting and standing positions, so you can get more done, more comfortably.
Our ergonomic office furniture collection is crafted on the belief that you should feel good mentally and physically by the end of your work day. Designed for both personal and professional use, our premium-grade ergonomic solutions are here to help you to enjoy EFFY in your home office or at your work office, with ease.
Visit our shop collection to see all the ways you can improve your workplace ergonomics and support our mission to work towards a greener future today.
To learn more about EFFYDESK’s products and services, be sure to check out our FAQ page or browse the blog archive for other helpful articles on ergonomics in the workplace.