Useful Tips to Save Energy While Working From Home

Useful Tips To Save Energy While Working From Home

Just like that on March 25th 2020, India went into lockdown forcing the Indian workforce to resort to working from home. While many saw convenience working from home and the pleasure to spend quality time with their families, little did they expect that they’d be receiving an exorbitant electric bill.

And its not just the common man who had been bamboozled with over the board electricity bill, even bollywood stars came in for a shock after receiving their electricity bills. From Arshad Warsi, Renuka Shahane to Taapsee Pannu who received a shocking electricity bill of Rs. 32,000 during the three month lockdown period.

Although, we must add that after some number crunching and decoding the electricity bill, Taapsee did find the bill to be legitimate after all since it accounted for the ‘3-month’ consumption period. However, she pointed out that the calculation method could have been better by the state discom authority.

Now, imagine the crores of people who must have gone into a tizzy just as Taapsee did after receiving an exorbitant electricity bill which consisted of a calculation method that was completely unclear to the common man.

Discomfort and complaints towards high electricity bills were raised by residents from several states across India such as Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and expressed that electricity bills have increased two to three folds during the lockdown period.

It is natural that because people are working from home and are at their homes throughout the day, they are bound to consume more energy than otherwise. With summer season being at its peak, people working from home had to resort to using air conditioners and fans for elongated periods which can account for half of the months’ electric bill. Not to mention lights staying on longer, computers charging more frequently and printers printing more and more often – all that extra electricity adds up.

Luckily for you to be reading this article, but before that let us first understand which gadget consumes how much electricity. Economic use of home appliances can help in reducing electricity bills. The following table shows the energy consumption of various appliances normally used at home:

Appliances	Rating (Watts)	Operating (Hrs/Day)	Units/Month
Incandescent Bulbs	40	6	7
Fluorescent Tube light	40	10	12
Night Lamp	15	10	4.5
Mosquito Repellent	5	10	1.5
Fans	60	15	27
Air Coolers	175	8	42
Air Conditioners	1500	6	270
Refrigerator	225	15	101
Mixer/Blender	450	1	13.5
Toaster	800	0.5	12
Hot Plate	1500	0.5	22.5
Oven	1000	1	30
Electric Kettle	1500	1	45
Electric Iron	1500	1	45
Water heater (1-2 Ltr storage capacity)	3000	1	90
Water heater (10-20 Ltr storage capacity)	2000	1	60
Immersion rod	1000	1	30
Vacuum Cleaner	700	0.5	11
Washing Machine	300	1	9

Solutions To Save Energy When Working From Home

There are several methods using which one can reduce the energy consumption while working from home:

Lighting

Switch to LED lights.
Turn off lights whenever not is use.
Take complete advantage of natural light by utilising soft-coloured, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow maximum daylight into your room. Also, use light colour paint on your walls that reflect natural light.
Remove and clean the dust on the lighting to ensure maximum illumination.
Make use of electronic chokes instead of conventional copper chokes.

Air Conditioners

Give higher priority to air conditioners with automatic temperature cut off
Maintain regulators at low cool position.
Run your fan in conjunction with the air conditioner to spread the cool air more effectively throughout your room.
Maintain air conditioner temperature at a high level.
Seal your doors and windows properly.
Keep adequate space between your air conditioner and the wall to allow maximum air circulation.
Position your thermostat as high as possible in the summer. This is because if there is less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower will be the electricity consumption.
Avoid maintaining your thermostat at cooler temperatures when you switch on your air conditioner as it may result in excessive cooling.
Avoid positioning your thermostat closer to TV set or lamps as the heat emanating from these appliances may result in the air conditioner running longer.

Washing Machines

Always operate washing machines with full loads.
Use timer facility to conserve electricity.
Opt for natural drying instead of electric drying.

Refrigerator

Ensure to regularly de-frost the refrigerator and freezers as frost increases the level of electricity that is needed to keep running the motor.
Maintain proper temperature level.
Ensure that the refrigerator’s door and the freezer’s door are properly closed.
Avoid opening the refrigerator’s door too frequently.
Avoid keeping the refrigerator’s door open for long as more cool air will flow out.
Keep adequate space between your refrigerator and the wall to allow maximum air circulation.

Computers

Prefer using laptops instead of desktop computer as laptops use far lesser electricity.
Switch off your home office equipment when not is use while working from home. If kept running, for example a desktop computer, then it will consumer far greater electricity than a high energy efficient refrigerator.
Setting computers and monitors on sleep mode when not in use leads to a decrease in electricity consumption by as high as 40%.
Pull out the charging plug of your laptop battery charger when not is use.

Fans

Prefer using electronic regulators instead of conventional ones.
Position the exhaust fan at a higher elevation.

Kitchen Appliances

Microwave Oven

Consumes lesser energy by 50% than conventional electric / gas stoves.
Avoid baking large food items.
Do not pre-heat your oven unless you are baking breads, cakes and pastries.
Avoid opening the oven’s door too frequently.

Electric Stove

Opt for flat-bottomed pans that have full contact with the coil.
Turn off few minutes before the specified time.

Gas Stove

Operate on moderate flame setting to conserve LPG.
A blue flame indicates that the stove is operating efficiently.
A yellow flame indicates that the stove requires cleaning.
Ensure covering the pan with a lid while cooking.

Water Heater

Always prefer using a solar water heater instead of a conventional water heater.

Using Home Solar Energy Solutions

India is fortunate to be able to harness solar energy for about 300 days in a year and has one of the best conditions for solar power. So, for this reason, it is compelling enough to not ignore this abundant and profitable source of energy.

Consumers must use residential solar solutions to be able to generate their own power and not depend on costly grid power. The cost incurred is a one-time cost which may be very less considering the money you will save on your electricity bills in the long run. Experts believe that 1kWp solar rooftop plant can on an average generate over 4.0-4.5 kWh of solar power per day (considering an average 7 sunshine hours per day).

SolaireGen provides hassle free residential solar solutions to home owners that can be customised to their specific electricity needs and area availability. Our expert engineers hand hold during the entire process until the solar power plant is up and running.

If you are looking to get a solar power solution then please get in touch.