Remote work has increased massively over the past four years; 16% of companies are now fully remote and, by next year, over a fifth of all American workers are projected to be working remotely. This change has had a huge impact on how and where we work. As the workforce has moved away from offices, demand for home workspaces has exploded.
Dedicated home offices soon emerged as a solution for full-time remote workers — and the absolute peak expression of the home office is the backyard office, a standalone unit that’s separate from your primary residence.
SHOW NOTES: The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the face of America’s workplace. In fact, an increasing number of folks might find their “new office” feels a lot like home – because it is literally their home.
Our post-pandemic “return to the office” may look different with hybrid or fully remote work models rapidly rising in popularity. Studies from Accenture support this trend with 83% of workers believing a hybrid model would be optimal going forward. Further, 87% of managers believe working from home is the future, according to Remote-How research.
While the new dynamic promises an improved work-life balance, it will also cause energy use and utility bills to skyrocket with technologies, appliances, and systems running overtime – making optimal, energy-efficient home climate control a greater challenge.
The good news is that families can prevent a utility bill blitz by following a few simple tips. With home heating and cooling accounting for nearly half of home energy use, small steps can go a long way. Today, Beth and John are talking with Dennis Stinson, VP of Sales for Fujitsu General America. Dennis is here to offer expert advice for homeowners and discuss these questions:
● What is a “hybrid” home? ● How has this new workplace dynamic impacted America’s homeowners and their energy bills? ● What are the latest and most energy-efficient HVAC systems that can help offset increased utility bills as employees spend more time working from home? ● Are there any easy tips and tricks for practical fixes around the house that can help enhance energy efficiency?
IN THIS EPISODE: ● [02:33] What is the hybrid home and industry research ● [04:41] How hybrid homes impact homeowners’ energy bills ● [05:45] Assessing current HVAC centers ● [08:33] Leveraging smart home HVAC offerings ● [10:19] Adding additional units or splitting units ● [12:35] Consumer experience and mobile technologies ● [15:32] Energy incentives and rebates ● [17:30] Recap and action steps
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KEY TAKEAWAYS: ● Action Step: Evaluate how well your HVAC system is working, or if you have had changes to how often you are home. Is the HVAC working properly? ● As a homeowner, you should have a relationship with a variety of different contractors. Try to find one before your system breaks. Get on a regular annual maintenance program to have your system maintained and cleaned. ● There are rebate and incentive programs available to promote higher energy efficiency in your home. Be sure to take advantage of these!
BIO: Dennis Stinson is the Vice President of Sales for Fujitsu General America, a national manufacturer with distributors in local communities across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean and brings over 30 years of industry experience.
Dennis leads a team of sales professionals, selling well over $300M of Fujitsu products. At Fujitsu, Dennis has held the responsibilities of Regional Sales Manager in the Mid-Atlantic and The Director of National Accounts. Prior to joining Fujitsu, Dennis spent his career as a Manufacturer’s Representative representing various Manufacturers in the HVAC industry throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Dennis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
Whether you’re a work-from-home veteran or a new initiate, building an inviting office space is vital to maintaining your productivity. For all those bringing the 9-to-5 into their humble abodes, here are eight home office essentials to make your workday run smoothly.
An online P.O. box
Working from home can be hectic, meaning that little errands like checking your P.O. box, slip through the cracks. You might tell yourself that you’ll check the mail tomorrow, and before you know it, you’ve missed out on vital documents and packages.
With a virtual P.O. box service from providers like iPostal1, entrepreneurs or solo professionals can check their P.O. box virtually without leaving the home office. It uses an actual street address to intercept and upload your mail to the client portal. From there, you can decide whether the employees forward, scan, shred, or store your mail, all from the comfort of your home.
If the coronavirus pandemic has forced you to work from home like most employees around the world, then you have probably set up some kind of a home office. However, chances are that workspace isn’t comfortable nor practical. This is a common problem for remote employees. Either they don’t have enough free space for a home office in their homes, or don’t have time to design it with comfort and convenience. If you are interested in improving your home office to make it practical, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 5 things to consider when setting up a comfortable home office.
