October 25, 2023 / Care Home News
As a care home manager, you are responsible for ensuring that your care home runs efficiently and cost effectively. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is by implementing energy saving strategies. In this blog post, we’ll provide five easy tips that care home managers can use to reduce their energy consumption and save money. From simple changes like turning off lights and appliances when not in use to more complex strategies like investing in energy efficient equipment, these five tips can help any care home manager save energy.
As a care home manager, one of the best ways you can save energy and reduce costs is to educate your team. Make sure all employees understand the importance of using energy efficient practices at all times. Ensure they understand that even small changes in the way they use energy can result in significant cost savings. Encourage your team to switch off lights when they leave a room, to turn down heating and air conditioning when it’s not needed, and to use efficient appliances.
You may want to consider holding regular training sessions for your staff on energy efficiency practices. This will help ensure that everyone on your team is taking action to help reduce your energy costs and helping you save money. Additionally, if your team is well informed about energy efficiency, they can help educate your residents about the importance of reducing energy consumption.
Care home managers should consider getting an energy audit of their facilities to identify cost saving opportunities. An energy audit will provide an understanding of your building’s energy use, help you identify areas of improvement, and prioritise cost saving opportunities. During an energy audit, a qualified auditor will examine and analyse your building’s energy usage, identify areas of inefficiency, and recommend ways to reduce energy consumption.
The cost of an energy audit is relatively low compared to the potential savings, and some utility companies offer discounts for care home managers who get an audit. An energy audit can also qualify your care home for incentives and rebates for making energy efficient upgrades. With proper planning and implementation, an energy audit can lead to significant cost savings for your care home.
Care home managers who are looking to save energy in their care homes should consider investing in energy efficient appliances. By replacing outdated or inefficient appliances with modern, energy-efficient models, a care home manager can reduce their energy consumption and save money on electricity bills. This cost saving can be significant over time as energy efficient appliances use less energy, but can still perform the same functions as an older appliance.
There are a variety of energy-efficient appliances available for a care home manager to choose from, including efficient commercial dishwashers, washing machines and dryers. Care home managers should research the models available and determine which ones will work best for their care home. For instance, the new Schulthess W range of commercial washing machines can run a load an a thermal disinfection cycle from as little as 55p. This outperforms the competition by at least 7p per wash* and in most cases more than 10p.
By investing in energy efficient appliances, care home managers can make a significant contribution towards reducing energy consumption and helping the environment. Ultimately, this investment will pay for itself through long term cost savings. In addition to replacing outdated appliances, care home managers should also consider switching to a commercial dryer, either gas or electric. Gas dryers use significantly less energy than electric dryers, and should be a consideration when installing or replacing. For example, based on current energy costs, the electric Primus DX25 dryer uses £9.18 per load but, in contrast, the same machine fuelled by gas is almost half the price costing £4.92.
One of the easiest and most cost effective ways for care home managers to save energy is by taking advantage of natural light. Incorporating skylights or windows that let in natural light can drastically reduce the need for artificial lighting. Natural light has a number of benefits, including improved mental health for residents, increased productivity and improved morale for staff members. Care home managers should look for ways to strategically place windows and other light sources throughout the facility to maximize the use of natural light while also providing enough privacy and security.
Using natural light can also have a direct impact on electricity costs as well as cooling costs. Using natural light rather than electric lighting during the day can significantly reduce energy consumption and help care home managers achieve their cost saving goals. Additionally, using natural light instead of artificial lighting can minimise heat buildup inside the facility, resulting in lower air conditioning bills. Care home managers should make sure that windows are properly shaded and insulated to ensure that natural light does not cause any discomfort or excessive heat gain inside the facility.
Care home managers should educate their residents on how they can contribute to energy cost savings. This education can include showing them how to use their appliances correctly, making sure they turn off the lights when they leave a room, and explaining why conserving energy is important. You can even involve your residents in energy saving activities such as composting food scraps or planting trees around the premises. By teaching your residents how to save energy, they can become part of the overall effort to reduce energy costs in the care home.
Need to talk to someone about an energy efficient laundry room? Contact us today on 0330 0532192.
*based on currently available energy consumption figures for each brand.
