Save Energy At Your Home Office

Today’s economy has more people working from their homes instead of commuting to offices. If you’re one of them, consider making over your home office with energy-efficient features.

  • Turn your computer off when you’re finished working for the day. It’s tempting to leave your computer on for quick access, but it’s unnecessary to leave it on 24/7. If you will be away from work for more than two hours, shut it down.
  • Enable the power management features on your computer. These are the features that automatically put your computer into standby mode when not in use.
  • Shut off printers, copiers, scanners and other large equipment when not in use. Plug them into one power strip to shut them off with one flick of the switch. If you often forget to turn them off, use a power strip with a timer to power down each night.
  • When buying new equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR label on all computers and printers. Choose equipment that does double duty—like a printer than also scans and copies, for instance. That way, you’ll have fewer devices to plug into the wall.