With cost of living still top of mind, consumers are rightly concerned about the extra costs added to their energy bills from working at home but new research shows that they needn’t be.
MakeMyHouseGreen has produced a study comparing the impact on cost of living by working at home or going to the office to help people who have the option make the right choice.
They looked at the extra cost added to heating and electricity bills for the cost of working at home and the cost of commuting for office work costs.
The finding? Cost-conscious consumers should consider working at home if they have the option.
The study showed that working from home added an average cost of £417.06 per year to energy bills, whereas the average cost of commuting was double that at £795.72 annually.
Office work often incurs hidden costs that remote work circumvents, but weren’t included in the study, suggesting the savings of work from home could be even greater. There’s the need for a more formal wardrobe, often costing more than casual home wear. Higher childcare costs might be incurred to cover commute time. Furthermore, being physically at the office increases the likelihood of eating out – a costlier alternative to home-cooked meals.
Llewellyn Kinch, CEO of MakeMyHouseGreen, said: “Employees who can work remotely are better off than those working in offices. However, at-home workers with renewable energy sources like solar at home stand to benefit even more, as they can offset the increased daytime energy expenses.”