Energy-Efficient Home Working

A practical guide for the Adaptable Travel team  •  May 2026

We use energy every day: devices, lighting, cloud services, and sometimes travel. As a remote-first team, most of that energy use happens at home. We can’t tell you how to run your home, and we wouldn’t want to, but we can share a few simple habits that make a real difference, cost nothing, and often save you money too.

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Your Devices

All company-issued equipment must be set to energy-saving mode by default. Here’s how to check yours:

• Windows: Settings → System → Power & Sleep. Set screen to turn off after 10 minutes, sleep after 15
• ‍Mac: System Settings → Battery → Enable Low Power Mode. Set display to turn off after 15 minutes
• ‍After a software update: Updates can reset power settings. Worth a quick check each time

‍Switch Off Fully

Standby and sleep mode still use energy. At the end of the working day, switch work equipment off completely.

• ‍Laptop and monitor: Shut down, don’t just close the lid or press sleep‍
• Chargers and cables: Phone chargers, laptop chargers, and USB hubs continue to draw power when plugged in, even when nothing is connected to them. Unplug them when they're not in use‍
• Switch off at the plug: Where possible, switch equipment off at the plug socket rather than just using the device's own off button

‍Lighting

Your home, your call. These are suggestions, not rules.

• ‍Natural light first: Position your desk near a window where you can. It’s better for your eyes too‍
• Unused rooms: Switch lights off in rooms you’re not using during the working day‍
• LED bulbs: If you’re replacing a bulb, LEDs use around 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and last years longer

‍Emails

Emails have a carbon footprint. Small habits across a whole team add up.

• ‍Keep emails short: Less text, less energy. If it doesn’t need an email, use a Teams message or a reaction
• ‍Use shared links instead of attachments: A SharePoint link uses far less energy than a large attachment sent to ten people
• ‍Clean up your inbox: Delete what you don’t need and unsubscribe from mailing lists you no longer read

‍Online Meetings

Video streaming uses significantly more bandwidth and energy than audio alone.

• ‍Camera off by default on large calls, webinars, or calls where it adds little
• ‍Cameras on for conversations where the connection matters

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Green Energy Tariffs & Smart Meters

Entirely your choice. But if you’re thinking about it, green tariffs from UK energy suppliers are now competitively priced and often cost no more than standard tariffs.

What a green tariff actually means: Not all green tariffs are equal. The best ones are backed by verified renewable electricity: wind, solar, or hydro. Some suppliers use Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) certificates to match your usage to renewable generation. Others simply offset your consumption.

UK suppliers worth looking at: A few suppliers consistently rated well for genuine green credentials include Octopus Energy, Ecotricity, Good Energy, and Bulb (now part of Octopus). These source a high proportion of their electricity directly from renewable generators rather than relying purely on certificates. If you are already with a larger supplier such as British Gas, EDF, or E.ON, check whether they offer a specific green tariff within their range as these vary significantly.

Off-peak incentives: Some suppliers offer time-of-use tariffs that reward you for using electricity at off-peak times, typically overnight or on weekend mornings when renewable generation is higher and demand is lower. Octopus Agile and Octopus Go are well-known examples. If you have an electric vehicle or home battery these tariffs can offer meaningful savings.

• What to look for: Tariffs backed by verified renewable energy, not just carbon offsetting. Look for suppliers with verified renewable electricity in their fuel mix
• ‍Smart meters: Free from your supplier and a useful way to understand your home energy use. Worth requesting if you don’t have one

‍Supplier and tariff information is correct as of May 2026 and may change. Always check directly with suppliers for the latest details

 This guide sits alongside our Energy Reduction Policy, which is available in the Adaptable Travel Knowledge Base. It is reviewed annually. Questions? Speak to the Sustainability Lead: katrina@adaptabbletravel.co.uk