Heating while working from home during Covid-19

RheaJames

Hi All, I know there's previously been statements around heating your home all day is cheaper is a myth. www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/energy-saving-myths
This generally covers if you are not in your home permanently throughout the day, but with covid-19 and working from home, is it cheaper to heat constantly at the temperature you are comfortable in throughout the day, or is it still cheaper to do more hotter short bursts?

Jeremy535897

If your central heating is set to on all the time, it still switches on and off as the required temperature is reached/drops. If you are in the property at the time, what matters is the temperature you set the thermostat at. If you only use one room for extended periods, you may be better with a small electric heater for the one room, rather than heating the whole house.

ginger_chocolate

Does it matter? Still cheaper than driving to work,

Not everyone drives to work (in fact, I know very few people who do). If you usually walk or cycle to work, chances are working from home over the winter will leave you worse off than usual, so it's a legitimate question.

MoneySeeker1

Absolutely so!

Prior to retirement my heating wasnt on "all day every day" and I walked to work.

So it would indeed be a legitimate concern as to just who was going to pay for the extra heating costs:
- myself (fair enough - if I was the one that had decided to wfh)
OR
- my employer (down to them if they'd ordered me to WFH).

paddyandstumpy

MoneySeeker1 said:

Absolutely so!

Prior to retirement my heating wasnt on "all day every day" and I walked to work.

So it would indeed be a legitimate concern as to just who was going to pay for the extra heating costs:
- myself (fair enough - if I was the one that had decided to wfh)
OR
- my employer (down to them if they'd ordered me to WFH).

So in the current pandemic, will you expect the Govt to pay, as they are ordering people to WFH where possible...?! 

MoneySeeker1

paddyandstumpy said:

MoneySeeker1 said:

Absolutely so!

Prior to retirement my heating wasnt on "all day every day" and I walked to work.

So it would indeed be a legitimate concern as to just who was going to pay for the extra heating costs:
- myself (fair enough - if I was the one that had decided to wfh)
OR
- my employer (down to them if they'd ordered me to WFH).

So in the current pandemic, will you expect the Govt to pay, as they are ordering people to WFH where possible...?! 

Obviously - whoever did the "ordering" (be it Government or employer) would be due to pay my extra costs of heating - if I'd turned round (as I would have) and said "I'll still be coming into work as normal" - but one or both of them had forbidden me doing so. Not my choice = not my cost.

ToxicWomble

In that scenario it may be the employers choice to no longer require your services.
Pick your fights and battles wisely during these times.
Even if there is no direct financial gain with WFH saving from lack of commute, I would hazard a guess that people are at least saving commute time and gaining an element of flexibility as well
I currently save ~£10 on fuel, no idea of vehicular wear and tear and ~ 2.5 - 3 hours a week and that just the commute.

mattyprice4004

paddyandstumpy said:

MoneySeeker1 said:

Absolutely so!

Prior to retirement my heating wasnt on "all day every day" and I walked to work.

So it would indeed be a legitimate concern as to just who was going to pay for the extra heating costs:
- myself (fair enough - if I was the one that had decided to wfh)
OR
- my employer (down to them if they'd ordered me to WFH).

So in the current pandemic, will you expect the Govt to pay, as they are ordering people to WFH where possible...?! 

*asking, not ordering. It's not essential that people do  

Jonesy1977

MoneySeeker1 said:

paddyandstumpy said:

MoneySeeker1 said:

Absolutely so!

Prior to retirement my heating wasnt on "all day every day" and I walked to work.

So it would indeed be a legitimate concern as to just who was going to pay for the extra heating costs:
- myself (fair enough - if I was the one that had decided to wfh)
OR
- my employer (down to them if they'd ordered me to WFH).

So in the current pandemic, will you expect the Govt to pay, as they are ordering people to WFH where possible...?! 

Obviously - whoever did the "ordering" (be it Government or employer) would be due to pay my extra costs of heating - if I'd turned round (as I would have) and said "I'll still be coming into work as normal" - but one or both of them had forbidden me doing so. Not my choice = not my cost.

Your redundancy might not be your choice either........

Thrugelmir

Besides heating the space you are using sensibly. Invest in some sensible clothing. Makes the world of difference. 

Carrot007

ginger_chocolate said:

Does it matter? Still cheaper than driving to work,

Not everyone drives to work (in fact, I know very few people who do). If you usually walk or cycle to work, chances are working from home over the winter will leave you worse off than usual, so it's a legitimate question.

Still matters. I wake up at 8:58 atnd start work at 9:00. That QOL increase is worth more than the heating costs.

Plus, when I drove to work it was a lot less than most people, you seem to have a small reference frame, maybe you are in an odd area or something, still my 12 mile commute (30 mins in the worst of times, maybe 15 in no traffic) costs more than heating the entire house. Simple point is heating the house is not as big a cost as people think (and they in no way have to heat the entire house unless they want to).

Maybe OP would like to know that, or maybe all the bickering has scared them off as usual.