When I arranged my job responsibilities to allow me to work entirely from home, it was a huge improvement. I no longer need to set an alarm, battle rush hour traffic or work a set schedule. I’m able to dress more casually, listen to music and enjoy the comforts of home. To create a productive work environment, I needed to make some changes. I cleared out an unused guest bedroom and set up a dedicated office space. I purchased a new desk, ergonomic swivel chair and upgraded my keyboard and mouse. I also invested some money into updating my heating and cooling system. When the house was empty all day, I conserved energy by either turning the thermostat down in the winter or up during the summer. Once I started spending my time at my desk, it was costing me a great deal to maintain the entire house at the ideal temperature. I contacted a local HVAC contractor and looked into zone control. The project was not as complex as I’d thought. The HVAC contractor incorporated a series of valves into the ductwork which direct the heated and cooled air to the various rooms. These valves are controlled by independent thermostats located in each zone. There is a central interface which includes wifi connectivity, allowing me to manage the whole system through my smartphone. I’m able to customize the temperature of my home office without impacting the rest of the house. The energy savings has recovered the investment in a very short time. Plus, it’s super convenient. I no longer need to leave my desk to physically access the thermostat.