My energy bill increased when I worked from home during quarantine
Typically, when I was away from home, my thermostat was set to 80 degrees, which was a recommendation from my HVAC technician.
During quarantine, I enjoyed working from home because I think it created a healthier balance in my life. In addition, eliminating that routine weekly drive back and forth to work created more inner peace. Furthermore, I saved a ton of money on gas because there was no more commuting as my office was located at the bottom of my steps, a few seconds from my bedroom room. And the best part was having more freedom and flexibility to exercise and to cook well-balanced meals. Therefore, I also saved money on food because I ate most of my meals at home. After the first month of working from home, I noticed an increase in my energy bill. Though I saved money on fuel and food, I spent more money creating a comfortable air-conditioned workspace. I must admit I used my A/C far more than I should have. Typically, when I was away from home, my thermostat was set to 80 degrees, which was a recommendation from my HVAC technician. However, while I worked from home, 80 degrees was not ideal while I worked so I lowered the temperature to about 76 degrees which caused the A/C to remain on for most of the day. Consequently, this extra usage increased my energy bill, perhaps, a small price to pay to keep the air conditioning running to maintain a comfortable work environment. It would have been nice if my company compensated me for the extra cost, but unfortunately, they did not. You win some you lose, right?