It’s normal to use more electricity if you’re home more than you used to be.

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When you work from home, those costs are on you, and they can add up quickly.

This translated into an additional $6 billion in residential electricity bills nationwide.

That’s about an $11 increase in monthly electricity costs per household, according to the study.

Working from home could mean you’returning on lightsorrunning the heat or air conditioningin rooms you didn’t before.

Larger appliances like your oven and microwave might get used more often around lunchtime, too.

If multiple people are working in your home, this can double the cost.

“You’re home more, so you may notice problems you may have never noticed before.”

But there are still plenty of ways remote workers can shrink their energy usage and save on electricity costs.

For as much daylight as possible, venture to set up your workstation near south-facing windows.

This should net you sunlight all throughout the day.

If you work at night, consider swapping overhead lighting for task lighting, like a desk lamp.

Check time-of-use rates

In many parts of the country, utilities sell their energy undertime-of-use rates.

This means that electricity costs rise and fall throughout the day, depending on the demand for electricity.

You’ll pay more for electricity during peak hours, when the demand for electricity is at its highest.

However, it’s important to check with your utility to be sure.

This can add up to serious savings over time.

But during summer and winter, it’s probably on every day.

The cost of cooling a given space can seriously add up.

To cut down on energy costs, you’ll want to keep your HVAC system clean and well-maintained.

Radocaj also recommends checking that dampers and grills are open to allow for maximum airflow.

Energy-saving window treatments

You might already have an energy efficiency measure in place and not even know it.

“Shades and blinds are a big one,” Radocaj said.

Focusing your effort on your home office space can also make energy-efficiency measures more affordable.

For example, you could install solar blinds or other energy-efficient window treatments in just your work area.

Smart thermostats

Getting asmart thermostatcan help you cut energy costs from heating and cooling even further.

“I love smart thermostats,” Radocaj said.

Tax incentives from theInflation Reduction Actcan cover a portion of the cost of a smart thermostat.

Your utility might offer its own rebates too.

A great place to start is by simply getting ahome energy audit.

Anair fryer, for instance, will heat the house up a lot less than an oven.

“There’s a lot of small things that we can do.”