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It’s safe to say that having a home office offers a host of benefits. Working from home offers comfort, provides a more flexible work environment, and can even boost work productivity. But even with all of its benefits, one common concern for remote workers with a home office is the rise in their heating costs. As more time is spent at home, it’s easy to see a spike in your heating bill. Luckily, remote employees can still manage to keep their heating bills the same or lower even while working from home. By implementing the right strategies, such as investing in a ductless mini split system, layering up, and staying active, saving money this winter has never been easier. If you work from home and would like to learn how to save on your home office heating costs this winter, read on to learn eight heat-saving tips you can try.
1. Lower Your Thermostat a Few Notches
You might be reluctant to lower your thermostat this winter season, but it’s an effective way to keep your heating costs down. The good news is that you don’t need to lower your thermostat drastically in order to take advantage of the cost-saving benefits. Lowering your thermostat a few notches should be enough to see some savings. The U.S Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 10% on your energy bill by turning down your thermostat by 7-10 degrees. So, keep this in mind the next time you’re in your office.
2. Check Your Home’s Insulation
This is more of a long-term investment, but it’s one that will help you save your heating costs this winter. Proper insulation for your home office offers many benefits. For starters, it’s a great noise cancellation solution. If you have others in your home, insulating your home properly can help quiet noise around you as you work. Even more, insulation provides more comfort because it keeps your office warm in the winter. It can also lower energy costs because it helps prevent wasted energy.
3. Heated Blanket
One of the most effective ways to save on heating costs this year is to invest in a heated blanket. A heated blanket can be wrapped around your shoulders as you work, keeps you warm, and enables you to lower your thermostat this season.
4. Layer Up Your Clothing
If your home office is a bit chilly, consider layering your clothing while you work. Wearing multiple layers is a great way to keep you warm because air is trapped between each layer of clothing. This provides additional insulation. If you’re not exerting yourself at your job, wearing something with a cotton material is the perfect base layer. If you sweat often, you might want to consider a material other than cotton as your base. Cotton absorbs moisture, which can make those who sweat easily clammy. An alternative base layer is silk. Silk clothing is soft and light and is one of the easiest materials to wear under your normal clothes.
5. Warm Foods and Drinks During Lunchtime
To prevent you from turning your thermostat up while you work, switch up your meals and drinks. The right foods and drinks can warm your body and help you avoid an increased heating bill. For lunch, enjoy a hot meal such as soup or oatmeal. Hot drinks like tea and coffee can be sipped on throughout the day to keep heat flowing through your body.
6. Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Working from home means you’ll naturally use more energy. A great way to save on your heating costs is to invest in a smart thermostat. These types of thermostats learn your household’s patterns, occupancy, and proximity to adjust heating and cooling accordingly. While these thermostats are more costly, it is one of the most energy-efficient options that will help you reduce heating costs this winter.
7. Fingerless Gloves
Do you notice that your hands get cold when the temperature drops? This is because the extremities are one of the first things to feel cold. If you want to avoid running your heat too much or you want to keep your heat down, this can be a problem. A simple solution is to invest in fingerless gloves. These are garments worn on your hands that resemble regular gloves. The only difference is that they are fingerless, which makes it easier to do things like type on the computer or use the phone.
8. Increase Your Activity Levels
Working from home is great for a lot of reasons. Unfortunately, many people who work remotely lack adequate physical activity due to sitting at home all day. At the same time, sitting idle makes it easier for us to feel colder in the winter months. If you want to be able to keep your thermostat down to lower your costs, it’s essential to get active. Increasing your activity levels with simple exercises at home will increase your blood circulation and can help keep you warm throughout the day. Your exercises should be light to prevent sweating while on the job. Activities like jogging in place, stretching, and weightlifting can help get you warm.
Lower Your Home Office Heating Costs This Year
Lowering your home office’s heating costs boils down to your ability to minimize your heating use. The best way to do that is by finding alternative heat sources. Having a heat pump system is one of the best ways to work in comfort without increasing your home’s energy consumption.
When you’re wondering about how to save on home office heating, there are many things that remote workers can implement to keep them warm while on the job to keep heating costs low.
