If you are one of more than 50% of Londoners who are unlikely to be returning to the office full-time, as a result of Covid, you will want to set up a permanent home office. A comfortable space in which you can be productive. Here are some tips to help you to make sure that your living and working space is as eco-friendly as possible.
Use recycled products
At the top of the list is using recycled items. It is not hard to pick up a nice-looking up-cycled desk and chair. The city is full of little studios and shops selling this sort of thing. Many of them do so online.
You can also buy stationery and office products that have been made from recycled materials. For example, remanufactured ink cartridges which are relatively eco-friendly are available for practically any make or model of printer. With the bonus that they are usually far more affordable than brand new ones are.
Make room for a few plants
Plants are good for you as well as the planet. If you can make room for some in your home office. They will play a role in freshening up the air around you, taking the carbon dioxide and turning it into oxygen. Only on a small scale of course, but it will still make a positive difference. There are other benefits too, which you can read about here. If you don’t have space inside, consider setting up a window box. The plants will play a small role in cleansing the air in your neighbourhood while improving your view and your mood.
Reduce the amount of power you use
Do what you can to keep the amount of power you use to a minimum. It will save you money as well as being good for the environment. Simple things like reducing how long your laptop stays active when you stop typing can make a significant difference, over time.
If you have an air-conditioning unit, try using the dehumidifier setting (see here). You will be stunned by how much cooler the room will feel. On most days you will not need to turn the cooling on. This is good news because the dehumidifier setting uses a lot less electricity.
Insulate the room properly
Insulating the space you use for your home office will also help you to save power. It will stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
In many homes, the internal walls consist of two layers of plasterboard attached to a timber frame, which creates a gap. If you want to you can insulate that space. It is not a small job, but it has the added benefit of reducing the amount of noise that will enter your home office.
If you do not want to go to the expense of insulating your home office walls, don’t worry. Simple changes like sealing any holes, draught-proofing the door and window, will still help. More of the heat will be kept in the room during the winter months and out during the summer. Meaning that you will not have to use much power to keep it at a comfortable temperature.
As you can see, creating an eco-friendly home office is not difficult. Plus, provided you take the right approach it won’t cost you anything extra.
