For plenty of us, working life as we know it has changed vastly in the last two years. The rise of remote working for many previously office-bound staff has meant our homes have also become our main places of work. With firm work-from-home directives enforced throughout this winter, that’s meant some extra-large heating bills as we try to stay warm while we work.
There are a few reasons why it’s important to keep your working space warm through the day. First, it keeps us comfortable. That, in turn, keeps us working productively. And then there’s the question of heating your home efficiently in order to save money on your utility bills. All three things matter, so here’s how you can keep your office area toasty effectively and without spending too much money.
Do the basics
Keeping your working space warm starts with the basics. Whether you’re sat there working or out of the house, make sure you’ve got all the windows and doors around the room closed. This will help to preserve some warmth in the room through the night and make it easier and quicker to heat up when you want to raise the temperature.
Track the temperature
If you know what’s going on climate-wise in your home, you’ll have a better idea of how to heat it efficiently. Investing in a digital thermometer will help you to track room temperature easily, maintain a steady working temperature and understand the times of day it’s best to use your heating and when you can get away with leaving it off.
Deal with draughts
A persistent draught is the mortal enemy of a cosy room. If your office has a door with a large gap underneath it, you’ll likely be surprised by just how much heat can be lost through it. You have two options in this instance. First, you can replace the door with a better fitted option, or you can invest in a draught excluder to prevent heat from leaving your office unnecessarily.
Naturally, the latter tends to be much cheaper and easier than the former.
Layer up
Keeping you warm doesn’t have to be about keeping the house cosy at all times. If you want to keep things simple and bills low, make sure you’re wrapping up warm when things get chillier. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should be sat at your desk in a ski jacket and woolly hat, but if you are working away with no socks on or just a t-shirt and pyjama pants and think things are a bit nippy, add an extra layer or two before turning to your central heating.
Smarten up your heating
We live in a world of cheap smart technology, so why not take advantage of it? Installing a smart heating system isn’t as big a deal as it sounds and it’ll help you to regulate your heating use – for example, using it more wisely in the mornings to warm the office in anticipation of your arrival. It also means you won’t forget to turn the heating off, which will help keep your utility spending down.
With the home office the new norm for so many of us, keeping things comfortable and productive in our personal work setups is crucial to success. With a few cold months on the horizon yet, try some of these tips to keep your space consistently cosy.
