Energy Efficiency in Care Facilities: Balancing Comfort and Cost
Care homes face a unique challenge: maintaining perfect comfort for residents while managing soaring energy costs.
With energy bills representing one of the biggest non-staff expenses for care facilities, finding this balance isn’t just good business—it’s essential for survival.
The Care Home Energy Dilemma
Care homes use approximately 395,000 kWh annually—equivalent to 18 average UK households.
This high consumption makes perfect sense when you consider:
- 24/7 operation
- Higher temperature requirements for elderly residents
- Medical equipment running constantly
- Laundry and kitchen facilities operating throughout the day
But with the National Living Wage increasing by 10% to £11.44 in April 2024 and local authority fee increases averaging just 9%, care homes are feeling the squeeze from all sides.
Where Your Energy Pounds Go
Understanding where energy is being used is the first step to controlling costs:
- Heating and hot water: 60-70% of total energy use
- Lighting: 10-15%
- Catering: 5-10%
- Laundry: 5-10%
- Other equipment: 5-10%
This breakdown reveals your biggest opportunities for savings.
Simple Changes, Significant Savings
The good news? Many effective energy-saving measures require minimal investment:
1. Heating optimisation
Reducing average temperatures by just 1°C can cut heating costs by 8%, but resident comfort must remain the priority.
Instead, focus on:
- Ensuring heating controls are working properly
- Setting appropriate time schedules
- Preventing heat loss through draught-proofing
2. Hot water management
Hot water storage and distribution accounts for 15-25% of care home energy use.
Ensure tanks and pipes are properly insulated, and check that hot water temperatures are set correctly—hot enough to prevent Legionella (above 60°C at the cylinder) but not excessively hot.
3. Lighting upgrades
Replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs can reduce lighting costs by up to 75%.
Areas like corridors and communal spaces that require 24-hour lighting offer the fastest payback—typically less than 12 months.
4. Staff awareness
Your team is your greatest asset in energy management.
Simple training on energy-saving practices can reduce consumption by 5-10% with zero capital investment.
Balancing Comfort and Efficiency
Resident comfort must always come first, but comfort and efficiency aren’t mutually exclusive:
- Zoned heating allows different areas to be maintained at appropriate temperatures
- Thermal comfort involves more than just air temperature—consider humidity, air movement, and radiant temperature
- Individual control where possible gives residents autonomy over their environment
Beyond the Quick Wins
Once you’ve implemented these basics, consider these medium-term investments:
- Building management systems that integrate all controls
- Heat recovery ventilation that maintains air quality while reducing heat loss
- Solar PV to generate your own electricity
The Procurement Piece of the Puzzle
Even the most efficient care home can overpay for energy with the wrong contract.
At Link Utility Consultants, we specialise in:
- Securing the best energy rates for care homes
- Locking in prices up to a year in advance
- Providing forecast-led insights for optimal contract timing
- Guaranteeing to beat any direct supplier renewal quote
Take Action Today
Ready to reduce your care home’s energy costs while maintaining perfect comfort for residents?
- Book a free energy assessment to identify your biggest saving opportunities
- Implement operational changes with immediate returns
- Develop a plan for technology investments with rapid payback
- Ensure you’re on the optimal energy tariff for your usage pattern
Book your free care home review with Matt.
