With plenty of people working from home at the moment, electricity usage will no doubt be higher for most people this winter. Not only would you be using more electricity on computers, printers and other equipment for your home office, but as temperatures drop and winter sets in, you’ll need to crank up the air conditioner or other form of heating you have at home to stay comfortable while working. Don’t forget, when you go to work in an office, your heating at home is switched off and your boss foots the office heating bill. Now you will need to cover those costs yourself.

Below are some tips to keep your energy bills manageable this winter, especially if you continue working from home.

1. Switch off devices when not in use

Switch off any office equipment such as a computer and other appliances when you’re not using them. The added bonus is that you will be less tempted to go back into work mode once the working day is done. It is also recommended to switch off appliances like the toaster and kettle at the power point when not in use.

2. Consider switching to a better deal

According to Choice, switching to a cheaper energy deal could save you up to $760 a year. If you haven’t compared your energy provider to others for a while, take advantage of the online comparison sites to do the work for you. Just be mindful though that commercial comparison sites may only compare offers from energy retailers they’ve partnered with. Before you switch though, give your current provider a chance to keep your business.  With so much competition, you may be pleasantly surprised about what they are prepared to do to retain your business.

3. Don’t turn the thermostat on the heater too high

Consider Ausgrid’s advice that a heated room should sit between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Every degree programmed into an air conditioner above 21 degrees will add roughly 10% to our energy bills. If at 21 degrees you still feel a little chilly, just pop on an extra layer or cosy up on the lounge with a throw rug.

4. Encourage the kids to do their homework in the living area or your office

This will save having to heat their bedrooms during the day. 

5. Get used to closing doors

Closing off rooms when they are not in use will save significant energy in heating and therefore money. If you can, close the doors to bathrooms with exhaust fans, as these can let cold air into a heated home and make heaters or air conditioners work harder.

6. Let the sunshine in during the day

Open curtains and blinds during the day to let in the sunshine in to warm your home naturally. Then close them at night to keep the heat in as an enormous amount of heat is lost through glass.

7. Prevent any draughts around windows or doors by sealing them to prevent heat escaping and the cold from entering.