While a lot of things are getting back to something resembling normality out there, many of us know that we’ll be working from home for a while longer yet. Over the last year or so we’ve all made a big effort to make sure we have a home office set-up that actually works for us. We’ve left the kitchen table behind and invested in a desk chair that won’t ruin our back. But we’re also always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, which means that our home office should be more than efficient; it should be green. Here are three ideas to help you create an environmentally friendly home work space.

Make sure you’re making the most of natural light

This point is a lot easier in the summer as we start to enjoy longer, brighter days, but you should aim to be working in a well-lit space all year round. Sunlight is not only a great booster for your mental health, but it will also cut down on the amount of electricity you’re using. So, if you’ve squirrelled yourself away in a quiet spare room that sits in darkness most of the day, think about relocating to somewhere brighter. Your mood and your energy bills will thank you.

Use energy-efficient light bulbs

Of course, using natural lighting isn’t always an option and we are all familiar with those long evenings spent trying to complete a project ahead of a deadline. When you’re burning the midnight oil, make sure to use energy-efficient light bulbs. These days, it’s easier than ever to make the environmentally friendly choice, and LED bulbs are significantly kinder on the climate and your energy bill. These LED bulbs with e27 socket are far more energy efficient than their incandescent or halogen counterparts, and there are dimmable options available too. Any-Lamp has an amazing range of bulbs to suit your lighting needs.

Don’t forget to recycle

As we went wild on the online shopping over the last year, it has been easier than ever to let some of our good environmental habits slide. However, it’s easy enough to turn that car around, and it starts with getting some good habits going. Investing in separate waste bins for recyclable and non-recyclable goods is a classic first step, but what about repurposing and reusing? Think twice before throwing anything away and ask yourself if your rubbish could have a second life.

Power down properly

When you’re rushed off your feet, it’s easy to forget simple actions that make a big difference. For example, switching your office appliances off at the wall at the end of the day has a real impact on the amount of energy they use. However, there are a couple of other tricks of which you may not be aware. If you have a screensaver on your computer, switch it off and ensure that your machine is going to hibernation mode. Newer appliances should come with energy-saving modes so make sure that you use them. These steps may seem small, but their impact is anything but.

[disclosure*]