The concept of a remote office is not new, but with the rise in remote working we have seen in the last few years, more and more people are setting up comprehensive work spaces and preparing to work remotely long term. While some companies and industries require employees to work in office, many more are switching to hybrid or fully remote work, meaning if you’re not already in a position to work remotely, you may be at some point in the near future.
Remote work offers flexibility and accessibility to many California residents, but there is a hidden cost to remote work that needs to be considered if you’re planning on setting up a remote office for yourself. For those who are going to be working part or full time from a remote office, a solar installation may just be your best friend.
What is a Remote Office?
Traditionally, a remote office would be a satellite office of the main branch of a business, as in: the headquarters are in one city but there is a remote office in another city. However, in the last few years the term remote office has come to be used interchangeably with home office, to establish someone who works primarily or exclusively remotely.
Power Usage Plus
While remote work is a net positive for those who want or need to use it, the hidden cost of remote work needs to be considered if you’re going to work from a remote office full time. Namely, the increase in energy usage is something you’ll have to reckon with, especially when your energy bill starts to climb. When you work in an office, there is a large chunk of the day where your home is using low power - while some appliances draw power even when turned off, you are avoiding the cost of using your lights, computer, air conditioning, and more.
Meanwhile, once you start working from your remote office, you will see immediately how much more power you are using. With your computer on, the lights on, the air conditioning running (especially during these California summers!) and more, you’re bound to be using more power per day than ever before. Luckily the solution for this increased energy usage is to generate clean, renewable energy on site with a solar system. Instead of your remote office costing you more money to operate than usual, you can cover your costs by generating energy to use when you need it. Plus with battery storage you’ll be able to bank energy in the day to use at night. Battery storage also has an added benefit when paired with a remote office setup.
Remote Office: Outages Outmatched
Have you ever been working on an important project, only to find yourself staring at a black screen in a dark room as the power cuts out? A poorly timed power outage can make or break a big project, and depending on how long you are without power, you may be taken out of operation for the entire day! As grid instability continues to be a major problem for California residents, power outages will be more and more of an imposition on the operation of your remote office.
With a battery storage system connected to a solar installation, you can continue to power your devices even when the grid goes down. Not only will you be saving money on your energy bill, but you’ll be protected from the hassle and danger of power outages. You can control which devices are most important for you to maintain power on, and continue to operate as needed until the power is restored to your area. With solar + storage, there’s no more missed meetings - just easy and efficient work from your remote office!
Electrification Consideration
Now that you’ve committed to setting up and powering up your remote office, it’s time to consider home electrification! If you’re going to be home all day working and then relaxing after work, why not use less power overall with energy efficient home upgrades? We’ve got a guide to get you started on your very own remote office electrification project, but if you’re looking for some guidance, or are interested in a solar + storage system of your very own, our expert consultants are here to help - so schedule some time on their calendar!
