How to Be Green While Working From Home

Many people are working from home nowadays, and it is a trend that is likely to continue. Working from home can help you to save money on traveling and work clothes. However, electricity costs can go up, especially if you work on a computer. Luckily, there are a few things you can learn so you know how to be green while working from home. All of these tips can also help you to save a little bit of money while helping the planet!

Buy Solar Panels

One of the most extreme things to do to be greener while working from home is to invest in solar panels. Did you know that buying solar panels can help to save a lot of money in the long run, whether you work from home or not? Solar panels use renewable energy from the sun. This means the energy you collect is entirely green.

Depending on how many solar panels you buy, you may have to use a mix of green energy and energy from fossil fuels. The more solar panels you have, the less you will need to rely on fossil fuels, and the greener you can be while working from home. However, it should be noted that it will likely be expensive to buy and install the solar panels, but it can help you to save money over time.

Remember to Unplug

When you are not using your electronics, remember to unplug them! Electronics use up a small amount of energy when they are plugged in, even if they are not turned on. This concept is called phantom energy or phantom electricity. Remembering to unplug things you are not using while you are working, like TVs and video game systems, can help to save both energy and money.

Another way to stay green while unplugging is to unplug your laptop while you are using it, if the computer can hold a charge, that is. When your laptop is plugged into the wall, it will use electricity from your home. However, if your laptop is not plugged in, it will use up electricity from your battery. While this may be a small thing to do, it can help to save a little on power.

Compost Your Food Waste

Working from home probably means that you are also eating from home. When you do this, you may be building up all sorts of garbage that could easily be turned into compost, rather than just being thrown away. You can compost just about all food waste, not just the waste created from fruit and vegetable scraps.

By composting your food waste, you can keep it out of dumps. While the food waste will decompose in either place, it will likely decompose and turn to dirt much faster when it is in an open compost bin than if it is in a sealed-off garbage bag. As a bonus, you can return your newly created soil to the earth! This is an especially good thing to do if you have a garden.

Recycle Often

Recycling is another great way to live a green life, whether you are working from home or not. Like with food waste, you are more likely to build up more recyclable waste if you are spending all your time at home, rather than if you were spending much of your day at work. To be as green as possible, try to recycle whenever you can.

Did you know that cans and bottles aren't the only things that can be recycled? However, how are you supposed to know if something can be recycled or not? There are two general ways to find out easily. The first way is to check the packaging to see if it has a recycling symbol on it. The second way is to check with your local waste management service to see if they have a list of items that can and cannot be recycled.

Conclusion

So, if you want to live a greener life while working from home, try these tips. They are sure to save you some money, electricity, and waste!