If you’re lucky enough to be working from home, you’ll already be cutting down on emissions that would’ve been created travelling to and from the office. However, despite the fact that a home setup can support a more sustainable way of working, there’s still plenty more you can do to fight climate change from the comfort of your home office.

With these three tips, you can make your home office as sustainable as possible and do a better job of protecting the planet.

Shop secondhand and refurbished

Your office furniture is a crucial element of your work-from-home space. From an ergonomic chair and desk to a functional storage unit, there are a few items you’ll need to make your workspace practical and comfortable.

Rather than buying each of your furniture items brand new, it’s best to shop secondhand wherever possible for a sustainable setup. With a little digging around, you should be able to find some quality pieces that meet your needs. Opting to purchase preloved items will mean you’re not contributing to the production emissions of new products. Plus, secondhand products tend to be a more affordable option.

Similarly, any technology is best purchased secondhand or refurbished. If your company has supplied you with a laptop, it’s likely to be one that’s already been used by other colleagues previously. However, if you’re responsible for purchasing your own tech, it’s worth speaking to your employer about whether or not you’re allowed to use a secondhand or refurbished device.

Be smart with your energy usage

By utilising renewable energy sources, you ensure your day-to-day work tasks have as little impact on the planet as possible. There are certain home upgrades you could look to install. For example, a heat pump will help you heat your home sustainably, while solar panels will both warm your home and ensure the energy powering your tech is renewable and eco-friendly.

If you’re not able to make larger home improvements, you can still look to reduce your energy usage wherever possible through your daily actions. For example, by turning off any power outlets when they’re not in use, ensuring your home office is draught-proof,  or installing power-saving lighting.

Home office worker

Adopt sustainable hobbies and habits

While not strictly a home office modification, adopting sustainable hobbies and habits can help to make each day you spend working from home far more planet-friendly. When you have a remote setup, it can be tempting to try to pack lots of fun activities into your schedule. Thanks to the lack of a daily commute, you should have a little extra time each day to devote to activities you enjoy doing outside of work.

It’s crucial to remember that any activities you do take part in could have an impact on the planet. Do your bit both in and out of work to minimise your impact, by opting for hobbies with a lower carbon footprint. This could be as simple as taking a walk on your lunch break and packing a snack, rather than driving half an hour away to pick up lunch outside of your area.

Equipped with these three tips, you’re well on your way to creating a sustainable home office space, in addition to lots of eco-friendly habits.

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