March 4, 2011

Creating An Energy Efficient Home Office

Many people are now working from home at least part-time due to the high cost of fuel. Setting up a home office can add considerable expense to your energy bills. One way to save on this expense is to use energy efficient products in your home office. Here is how to beget an energy efficient home office. First, lighting must be considered. Very few homes have enough natural daylight to allow for computer and reading all day. If you do not have enough natural light then energy efficient lighting is a must. Fluorescent bulbs are the best choice however there are other options as well. You can replace incandescent bulbs with mini or compact fluorescent bulbs. This will save you a great deal of money in the long rush. If you are planning a renovation, deem adding Solar Tubes to your plan. These are installed through the roof and they allow tons of natural light in. These are a tube with mirrors so there is no electricity used at all. The cost is a few hundred dollars and you can install it yourself or there is installation available. The best station for this type of lighting will be in the center of the room where you can receive the benefit of the natural light without it causing glare on your computer cover.

The next items you should look at are your computer system and peripherals. All of these can be energy hogs. Your monitor should be an energy star monitor. Your printer should also be energy star rated. Try to use an all in one printer (scanner/printer/fax/copier) instead of having several different devices. This will assign energy in the long bustle. HP and Brother make inexpensive and energy efficient models. Plug all of the peripherals into a surge suppressor strip. This way you can turn them off with a single switch.

A battery backup should be installed for your computer system. This will protect your equipment from fluctuations in electrical output. In addition during power outages you will be less likely to suffer data loss.

To keep your office “green” try using furniture from renewable woods like bamboo. Plastics give off noxious fumes which can cause headaches. Withhold it green and use wood or metal. Ergonomically shaped chairs and tables will help you keep from tiring.

Other things to consider to when creating an energy efficient home office is air stir. Your office should have at least one window. This can be opened in nice weather. An energy efficient fan will help keep the air circulating without disturbing your paperwork. Stay away from oscillating fans and opt for a window or small desk fan instead.

Study for energy efficient telephones. A land line or VoiP line will be required if you plan on sending and receiving faxes. Peer for solutions such as Vonage that will allow you to take your phone with you on a flash drive. This way you have a telephone anywhere you can connect to the internet. Finally, opt for a laptop over a desktop computer if possible. They are more energy efficient. Just be certain to recycle the battery if it needs replacing.

Finally, make sure you exercise recycled materials whenever possible. Recycled paper is always preferred. Musty paper can be made into notepads. Go paperless whenever possible. You will save money in the long run if you do not have to buy reams of paper.

This is how to create an energy efficient home office. Follow the ideas given here and you will be surprised at how much you can save.

You can read other how to articles by this author by clicking on the links below:

How to Build a Recessed Medicine Cabinet

The Best Herbs for Container Gardening

Adding A Personal Touch to Easter Baskets

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