A decade ago, if you worked from a home office, you likely ran your own business, or supported an industry in sales. Now home office workers often include flex and part-time workers or independent contractors. Even fully employed workers spend a fair amount of time working from home these days as technology has made it easy to carry our offices in a pocket. For all who fall into one of these categories, understand the energy and safety costs of working from home
“Whenever living and working arrangements change, so does energy use,” said DuWayne Dunham, energy services supervisor and lead energy counselor for Clark Public Utilities. “Working at home means you’re consequently burning more energy for heating and cooling, lights, and computing equipment than when the home is empty.”
In 2017, Gallup research estimated 43 percent of American workers claimed to work remotely from home. Eighty percent of the fully employed admit they want to telework from home at least part-time.
There are plenty of reasons to work from home, and it’s just not the reduced commuting time. Some want to coordinate with service calls in the field, manage obligations like medical appointments, meet home repair people, or shuttle children to sports practices and music lessons in between tasks.
The flexibility is a benefit, but there are important steps to take if you want to keep energy costs low and keep your office safe.
Use smart power strips. Not only do smart power strips protect equipment against surges and disruptions, they help you save electricity when you step away for a break that’s a little longer than planned. And when you turn off the main device, like the computer, the smart power strip will automatically power down supporting devices like monitors and printers. It’s also smart to protect your equipment with a universal power supply as a safety precaution that lets you gracefully shut down your equipment without damage (and without losing or corrupting files) in the event of a power outage.
Play it safe. If you have young children around, consider childproofing your office space. Put in plug covers on empty sockets to keep out little fingers. Stow tools, like staplers and scissors, and small objects, like paper clips, pens and pen caps too high for small hands to grab. Make sure file cabinets and bookshelves are not top heavy and are secured to the wall to avoid tip-over accidents.
Avoid permanently using extension cords in your office and keep cords stowed safely to avoid tripping or other hazards.
“Loose cords pose a danger for home office workers and children,” Dunham said. “There are inexpensive ways to help keep cords safely gathered and out of the way.”
Don’t overload the wall sockets. If your office is equipment heavy, talk with an electrician and find out if you need extra outlets. Reducing the electric load by using energy efficient electronics and switching to LED lightbulbs can help too.
Cut the clutter. An uncluttered office is a nicer and safer workplace. In addition to managing tangles of cords, take care to establish safe storage areas for work supplies. Avoid loose piles of papers and take extra care not to leave candles or other flammable items unattended in an office environment.
Clear all the exits around your house. Remove anything blocking exits and be ready to leave quickly in an emergency. The added benefit is an accessible office is easy to dash in and out for that unexpected meeting, an emergency at school or a stop at the office supply store. Trips and falls are avoidable accidents and it’s important to keep the space clear of hazards, even at home.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98688.
