The coronavirus pandemic has meant that many professionals across the country have had to adapt to a new working life at home.

There have been various benefits to this change in working life, including reports of reduced pollution and global carbon emissions.

With most of Britain – with the exception of key workers – no longer commuting every day to the office and opting to use online platforms to communicate with colleagues instead, there has been an overwhelming positive impact on the planet.

However, it is important to consider that whilst this is great news, millions of people spending more time at home than ever before could potentially result in the largest domestic carbon footprint that we have ever seen.

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Here are some easy steps to create a more eco-friendly working environment at home, as outlined by Zero Waste Scotland.

Choosing the right workspace

Choosing the right place to work in your home is difficult, especially considering that not everyone has the luxury of a home office or desk space. When picking a designated area to work, it is recommended that you choose a spacious area with lots of natural light to avoid turning on main lighting fixtures or desk lamps. Of course, it is not always possible to avoid artificial light, particularly in the winter months. However, reducing the amount of time that you need to use electricity to provide light will not only save you money but help to save the planet.

Managing working devices

We are all guilty of plugging in devices to charge, even when they still have plenty of battery left. Avoiding doing this will conserve energy and ensure that no energy goes waste, especially during the working day. Working in the one designated place during the work day means that there is no need for electronic devices to be switched on elsewhere in the house. Unplugging all devices when they are not in use is good practice to create a more energy efficient home.

DIY any draughts

Reducing your heating bill starts with minimising household heat loss. The most effective way to do this is by simply filling the gaps where hot air is escaping, doing this is a lot easier than you might initially think. The process does not need to be expensive and can be done by using an affordable sealant or tape, available from most supermarkets.

Controlling your kettle

Working from home means endless cups of tea and coffee! Overfilling the kettle may seem harmless but over time, it wastes so much energy. When making yourself a hot drink, why not fill up a flask to keep the water warm? If that doesn’t suit you, try to only boil what you need.

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Find heating alternatives

Turning on your heating is not the only way to get warm. If your workplace normally requires you to dress in business attire or a uniform, working from home allows you to choose what you wear each day and this has its benefits. If it is a particularly cold day, why not wrap up warm in your favourite jumper? By doing this, you may reduce the need to have the heating on or perhaps not have it running at full capacity for large amounts of time.