Scots urged to head back to the office this May as they could save £17 a week – Scottish Business News

BUSINESS energy experts at Bionic have conducted a study to discover if it is really cheaper for people in Scotland to WFH, or if the high energy costs that commuting can help you save. 

In Scotland this past month, 5,990 online searches have been made for “work-from-home jobs” and related terms, such as “work-from-home opportunities”. The appeal of working remotely is clear, from increased flexibility to having the opportunity for an extra few hours of sleep. While avoiding the commute may sound like the best (and cheapest) option, is the added strain on your utility bills actually costlier than commuting to the office?

Bionic’s study revealed that this is the case for two Scottish cities…

It costs £9.41 a day in utility bills to WFH in Scotland

Bionic’s research discovered that the average week working from home costs £47.07, or £9.41 a day, comprised of combined energy, water and WiFi costs. During the month of May, temperatures average from 7-13°C in Scotland, so many may result in turning on the heating in their homes, adding to their work-from-home expenses

Glaswegians can save £3.36 each DAY that they commute to the office over working from home

With over 39K searches in the UK this past month alone for “Glasgow jobs”, people are on the lookout for new work opportunities in the beautiful Scottish city. 

In Glasgow, a round trip to the office will set you back £6.05 on average, £3.40 cheaper than the average UK WFH utility spend meaning that commuting will actually help you save, more than working remotely would. If you were to work full time in the office in Glasgow, your savings would add up quickly, saving an extra £17 each week. 

It is cheaper to commute to the office than work from home in Edinburgh

When it comes to travel expenses in Edinburgh, it comes as no surprise that the prices are slightly higher in Scotland’s capital city. Travel expenses will set Edinburgh commuters back £8.81 per day, over five times cheaper than for those having to commute into London, who will spend approximately £28.77 a day. By opting to work from the office, rather than work from home using their own energy, WiFi and water (totalling £9.41 per WFH day), people living in London zones 1-6 can save an incredible £4.01 per day.

Is it cheaper to work from home where you live?

If it costs more than £9.41 per office day for you to travel to work, including any expenses such as petrol, parking or train travel, working from home may in fact work out cheaper for you. 

If you don’t get the option to head into the office to make use of the free heating, tea and coffee, Les Roberts, energy expert from Bionic shares six simple steps you can take to reduce your work-from-home costs:

“Working from home allows for many great comforts along side some monetary savings. However, there are some important things to consider if you’re looking to keep costs down.”

1. Let natural light in 

“Take full advantage of the hours in the day when natural light is bright enough to light the room. Open up the curtains instead of using artificial lighting throughout the day.”

2. Unplug chargers when not in use

 “Remember to unplug devices when not in use, as charges continue to draw power even after your device reaches full battery power.”

3. Be energy efficient when cooking lunch 

“When it comes to the time to make your lunch, there are a few simple adjustments that you can make to help reduce your energy consumption. For example, if cooking on the hob, put a lid on your saucepan to keep the heat in and when making a cup of tea only put as much water as you’re going to use in the kettle.”

4. Adjust your computer settings 

“Being energy efficient with your computer is a simple way to keep costs down. You can shut down your computer once you have finished using it for the day and activate sleep mode throughout the day during periods of inactivity. It is also good to note that you should unplug any devices connected to your desktop when not in use, such as printers and headphones.”

5. Compare energy providers 

“An effective way to keep your energy bills as low as possible is to ensure that you are getting the best deal possible. Compare prices and see if you could be getting charged less elsewhere and if necessary, switch energy providers.”