Opus Energy
Energy Efficiency Advice for the Healthcare Sector
Email us to receive your free healthcare ‘good practice’ guide for saving energy and reducing costs. The guide contains practical advice on ways to assess your work place and change working practices - start making savings today!
In the average doctors practice inexpensive steps can result in a 20% saving. These steps also can improve conditions for staff and patients:
Heating
- Install seven-day time controls and set them to reflect occupation hours – this way you won’t be wasting electricity in times the practice isn’t open
- Turn the heating down – in the colder months patients will feel uncomfortable if your practice is overheated. Reducing temperatures by just 1 ºC will cut energy consumption by 8%
- Keep windows closed when heating or air conditioning is on
Lighting
- Use natural daylight – it’s free! If natural daylight is bright enough don’t use the lights. Also turn off lights when leaving a room – this could reduce your lighting costs by up to 15%
- Fit energy saving light bulbs – they use 75% less electricity than standard light bulbs and last up to 10 times longer
Electrical equipment
- Switch off PC screens when not in use, screens do not use less energy when in ‘screen-saver’ mode. PC screen consumption can often represent almost two thirds of a computer’s energy consumption.
- Turn off vending machines when not in use, leaving them on 24 hours a day could cost around £120 a year!
Air conditioning and ventilation
- Lower cooling settings – if you set your temperature for air conditioning lower than 24 ºC your heating won’t operate at the same time as the heating – so you won’t pay twice
- Check and update automatic timing controls to prevent ventilation operating when it isn’t needed. Try linking toilet extractor fans to the light switch
Opus Energy is offering information for getting started and other market specific 'good practice' guides which detail practical advice for saving energy: