If you own a computer your going to need a space for it. Throw
in a printer, scanner and a pair of desktop speakers, and you're
talking about needing quite a bit of room for all that gear. The
square footage required for all that gear is enough to inspire
many homeowners to build a dedicated home office.
Running a business
Technology has made it easer than ever to operate a business
out of your home. Networking systems allow every computer in
your office as well as computers in other rooms to exchange
files, share a common printer and surf the web.
Naturally the best time to pull the wire is during construction or
an extensive remodeling project. That doesn't mean wiring
can't be added to an existing home.
When wiring a home office it is essential to place outlets and
jacks near the computer and other office equipment. That
way when you plug the computer into the jack very little wire
will be viable. Clearly it is a good idea to visualize the layout
of your home office before you decide on the jack locations.
If your home office will share the same furnace and air
conditioning system, stereo system and security system
as the rest of the house, consider having a home control
system installed. From a keypad, a touch screen or
even your computer or PDA you'll be able to adjust the
temperature, unlock the back door or pipe music into
your office.
Because your home office is used for serious business only
part of the time, you may want to incorporate other types of
systems into the room to get more use out of it. For instance,
with the right gear a home office can function nicely as a home
theater. Look for low profile electronics that won't interfere with
the office environment. A flat panel LCD or plasma T.V. paired
up with some in wall speakers would blend nicely with the office
decor. Click here for Plasma T.V.'s
No matter what type of business you have, working at home or from a home base is a unique
and wonderful experience. The trick is designing the office to fit in with the style of the home
and, most especially, the room where it will be placed. Look at the style and colors that you're
decorating with and go from there. Make your home office just business like enough to keep
you focused when you're working, but also look for ways to make it "fit" into the home without
screaming out at you that it's an office. Seek to blend the two concepts together, giving your
office a sense of importance yet emotionally acknowledging that it is, after all, in your home.
Wiring For Home Office
Laptop computers, modems, scanners, and other technological
advances are the secrets to home office success. But what if
you overload your electric circuits in the middle of rewriting a
contract, or your son's coach keeps calling while you're on an
important conference call? It's important to know what you need
from your technology and to be prepared to make realistic
accommodations.
How Much Power is Enough?
The more technology you use, the more power you need. A
home office with a computer, printer, and copier can require up
to two dedicated 20-amp circuits. To protect your technology and
materials, make sure your valuable electronics are plugged into
surge protectors and your computer is connected to a UPS
(Uninterrupted Power Supply). More about Surge Protection.
Stay Connected
Do you need to get online while you're talking on the phone? Do
your kids want to make phone calls while you're sending a fax?
For a reasonable price, you can install additional phone lines to
meet all of your domestic and office needs.
If you regularly spend six or more hours at a time at your home office, then proper lighting
can increase productivity, accuracy, and minimize fatigue and eye strain. Office tasks
require different lighting than most other areas of the home.
Light Your Home Office to Reduce Eyestrain
Don't watch T.V. in the dark! How many times have you heard that? Don't look at computer
screens in the dark either!
The truth in the statement lies in understanding contrast ratios. The eye can adapt to a very
wide range of light levels, but it can only adapt to one light level at one time. When one looks at
a bright computer monitor on a dark background the eye doesn't know whether to adapt to the
bright monitor or the dark background. When this happens hour after hour, day after day,
fatigue sets in.
The same thing can happen when looking at a brightly lit sheet of white paper in a dark room.
To lessen eye strain:
-Lower the brightness on the monitor
-Increase the light in the surrounding area; or
-Do both.
Just the opposite problem can occur when one places a computer monitor in front of a window.
The bright daylight surrounding the screen makes it difficult to see what is on the screen.
Watch for Reflections on Shiny Surfaces
Another area of concern is reflections on shiny surfaces, like computer screens and slick printed
material. These reflections obscure the task making it difficult to read.
Ideally the light should come from the side, for example; light coming from the right (whether
ceiling, wall or desk mounted) will reflect off to the left. Light coming from the front will tend to
reflect up into your eyes. Computer monitors also reflect light sources that are located behind
you (over your shoulder).
Layer Light for Best Design
All good lighting design uses layers of light, for the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing
design strategy. The three basic layers are:
-Task (putting high light levels only where we need it);
-Ambient (for circulation and to control contrast);
-Accent lighting points of interest (optional but important for providing visual interest).
Consider Fluorescent for Task, Ambient and Halogen for Accent
Using fluorescent is an excellent choice of light source for both task and ambient light. I
recommend 4-foot with T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts in high activity areas like a home office.
Also, the large size of fluorescent provides a large radiant surface that helps to minimize
shadows.
For ambient light you can use ceiling surface mounted fixtures, indirect pendants or wall mounted
light shelves.
For task light you can use fluorescent down lights (either recessed or surface mount) over the
task areas or under cabinet (or shelf) lighting. Be sure not to locate a task light directly in front
of the work area (like an under-cabinet light), as reflections can bounce directly in you eyes.
For accent light, a spotlight or two (either recessed or surface) that uses halogen lamps can be a
nice touch.
North Jersey Electrical Services Inc.
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