Businesses nowadays can’t function without a solid IT infrastructure that makes operations and communications smoother and faster. Sadly, there is a rather large cost to the way modern businesses operate – lots of power-hungry devices (if you are in an office) plus various energy-consuming tools (if you are in a warehouse or factory). Click ul listed vs ul recognized to learn more about power and electricity.
This means that even a small business, with a handful of employees, can rack up the energy bills. If we add to this the increasingly high energy prices and the overall environmental cost, things can easily look like they are getting out of control.
How About Work From Home (WFH)?
The pandemic pushed many businesses into WFH mode, which also led to a decrease in energy consumption in the corporate and industrial sectors. Of course, the data showed an increase in residential consumption, but there was no cause for an overload alarm.
Still, employees must be aware that working from home also increases the energy bill. Plus, depending on the number of people who are living and working in the same location, the increase could be a bit steep. Not to mention that, during the summer months, the extra hours you spend with the AC can make quite a difference (especially if you live in a country like Australia).
Home Office vs Commercial Office Space
Most people who want to continue working from home or make the switch to entrepreneurship from their home office do so because they have a dedicated space where they can work.
For instance, if you’re running a one-person business, you can turn your garage into a home office since this is a space that’s separated from the house.
In this case, the energy bill will register an increase, but you can add it to the business expenses sheet. However, if you plan on running a business that includes employees, you may want to think if it wouldn’t be more advantageous to rent a commercial space.
Small businesses consume, on average, 13,000 and 36,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, but each company is different. There are a number of factors that influence the overall level of consumption such as indoor and outdoor lighting systems, security systems, devices, heating and cooling systems, number of employees, location, and so on.
Plus, the final cost depends on the provider and whether or not the energy market is free or not. For instance, in Queensland (QLD), Australia, you have two scenarios:
- A government-regulated market in regional QLD where you can’t choose your favorite energy provider
- A deregulated market, in the southeast Queensland area where you can choose your own provider.
So, if you want to set up your own home office or commercial business space in this area, you can search for cheap electricity QLD and find the right provider for your needs (whether domestic or commercial). However, if you live in an area where the market is regulated, then you wouldn’t have the option to choose the most convenient tariffs.
Energy Saving Tips for the Home and Business
No business or homeowner wants to spend a good chunk of their budget on electricity. However, not everyone has the chance to live and/or work in an area where the energy market is deregulated.
If this is the case, there are a few things you can do to bring the costs down, depending on the industry. Here are a few tips:
- Always turn off devices, lights, and equipment not in use;
- Make sure all the lighting solutions are optimized to work at maximum efficiency;
- Try to introduce solar panels and energy from green sources;
- Make sure all heating and cooling systems are cleaned and up to date with the maintenance requirements;
- Use devices that are light on consumption such as laptops or tablets instead of powerful PCs (where possible).
A business’s electricity needs (even in WFH scenarios) are influenced by a series of factors. And, while some are not under our control, it helps to work on an energy-saving system that helps reduce the costs and keep consumption levels low.
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