Thanks to an ageing population, there is a greater need than ever for care homes. There are many options to cutting the cost of running your care home that will not reduce the quality of living for your residents, or the working conditions for your staff. Energy saving in care homes is a successful and viable overhead reduction tactic. Heating is one of the leading causes of care homes experiencing high energy bills. Here are some tips for cutting the costs of energy bills:
Don’t Use Electric Heaters
Electric heaters cost a lot more than a good central heating system. Central heating will not only reduce your running costs, it can also reduce the number of greenhouse gases that your care home is responsible for. If you don’t already have a central heating system, you might be intimidated by the initial cost of having one fitted. However, although it may be expensive to begin with, it will save you a lot of money in the long run. You can use Utility Bidder to help you find the best current energy supplies for your care home in order to ensure that you aren’t overpaying for the services you do have.
Close Windows
This might sound obvious, but windows that are left open can waste a lot of energy. Leaving a window open isn’t always done on purpose, so make sure to check for open windows before cracking up your thermostat. Windows are also often left open to regulate the heat within the building when it becomes too warm. Ensure that the heating is set to an ideal temperature, so that energy isn’t wasted by opening windows and letting all the heat out.
Insulate
According to the Mass Save program, If you don’t already have, then you need it! Insulation is key in making sure that your building retains heat. Without it, you will spend much more money on heating, and so on. Again, the initial installation might be expensive to begin with, but it will pay for itself in the long run. If you do have insulation, make sure you get it checked regularly, as it may need a top-up for it to be able to work to its full potential.
Turn Your Thermostat Down
As people get older, they naturally feel the cold more, so don’t turn the thermostat right down. However, reducing the temperature of your heating by just one degree can save your business a surprisingly large amount of money.
Tackle Your Lighting Costs
Installing motion sensor lighting is an excellent way of ensuring that you aren’t wasting any money on unnecessary lighting, without having to nag people about turning the lights off. You can also save money on lighting with the installation of smart key cards. Smart key cards cut the power to lighting and other non-essential devices when residents leave their room, like in a hotel. This can reduce your lighting bill by almost 50%! Another energy-saving option would be to use credible energy comparison sites such as ElectricityRates.com to compare rates that providers around your residence offer.
As you can see, there are many ways that care homes can save money by using clever consumption reduction techniques. Not only can you save money, but you don’t have to compromise the living conditions of your residents. By cutting down on energy costs, you can spend more money on activities to make the lives of your residents richer and more exciting.
