HOW CARE HOMES AND NURSING FACILITIES CAN BECOME ENERGY-EFFICIENT

A care home is a residential environment for persons who need 24-hour care. As per Oscar Research, the UK, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands have 21,723 care facilities. They generally shelter the elderly, although some also serve youngsters or individuals with sensory or mental disabilities. Care homes and nursing homes typically have considerably high energy costs, owing to excessive energy use and growing care home energy prices. Because these facilities are open 24 hours a day, it is critical to maintaininging the buildings comfortable and well-lit. 

It is believed that there are more adults over the age of 60 in the UK than under the age of eighteen, indicating that care facilities will not be out of inhabitants anytime soon. Care homes and nursing homes can become more energy efficient to help battle overly high energy expenses. Trying to decrease energy waste will help you save money on your utility bills. Assessments and the proper balance are necessary to guarantee that the living environment is safe and suitable. Here are some top ways how care homes can become more energy efficient. 

• Get the best heating equipment

Heating generally accounts for around 70% of a care home’s energy expense. Because elderly individuals are more vulnerable to cold, optimum temperatures for these institutions are considerably higher than in ordinary families. Although heating is unavoidably utilised to a greater extent in care homes, there are techniques to heating the facility effectively to keep your expenses as low as reasonably achievable. 

Selecting central heating over electric heaters, for instance, might help you save money and minimise your greenhouse gas emissions. You should also adjust your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature for your inhabitants; this little step can help you save significantly. 

• Get proper insulation for the facility 

Insulation is essential for keeping your building’s temperature stable. Planning to invest in wall, attic, roof, and floor insulation will assist you in preserving heat in your building and minimising your dependency on your heating system, allowing you to save electricity. You may also invest in double glazing for your window frames to assist keep heat in and your optimum temperatures in place. 

We also urge that doors and windows be kept closed whenever possible to prevent warm air from leaking and cold air from coming from outside. It would be best to make sure that any insulating you place is well-maintained and replenished regularly. 

• Use lighting effectively and efficiently

We strongly advocate investing in LED lightbulbs to improve energy efficiency and save operating costs in your nursing facility. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) consume 90% less energy than traditional incandescent lights. They also last longer, allowing you to save money on purchases. To maximise savings, after installing LEDs, you should convert to a lower business power tariff. You may also save money by putting motion sensors in your facility’s lights. 

When elderly patients leave a room, they may forget to switch off the lights. When motion sensors identify that a room is vacant, the lights will turn off automatically, assisting you in reducing energy waste. 

Final thoughts

To successfully lower your care home or nursing home’s energy expenses, you must first check that you are on an appropriate energy tariff. If your electricity contract includes high gas and electricity rates, you are likely to be overpaying for your electricity. Also, read through the recommendations listed above to maximise energy efficiency in your building.