Highest Energy Consumption Appliances in Care Homes

Residential elder care communities cannot function without consistent access to electrical power, which is vital to delivering high-quality care to its residents. These facilities are open around the clock every day of the year to meet patients' health and medical requirements in a restorative setting. This means that health care facilities are among the most energy-intensive use buildings. And the end effect was soaring electricity costs and the need to reduce energy use in care homes.

More than £400 million is spent annually in the U.K. health care industry on energy, much of which is lost to inefficiency. As a result, the caregiving sector's budgets are being severely strained by growing energy costs and general inflation. This then calls for assisted living facilities and nursing homes to reduce their energy use and costs by adopting more eco-friendly practices. To help you learn how to make your care home as energy efficient as possible, here are examples of some of the top energy-consumer items commonly used in nursing homes.

Lighting

Residents of a care or nursing home demand their rooms, corridors, and common areas to be well illuminated at all times, making lighting one of the largest consumers of electricity. This is especially true since the power cost may quickly pile up if patients, especially the elderly, or staff members fail to switch off lights when they leave a room. This is not a unique incident, though. Even in their own houses, people frequently forget to switch off the lights while leaving a room.

That's why it's important to set up motion detectors to turn off lights in unoccupied areas and cut your energy bill by as much as 30 percent. It's also a good idea to replace your standard bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives like LEDs, halogens, or CFLs. They are cheaper and consume 90% less energy than regular light bulbs.

Heating

While 21 degrees Celsius may be a good rule of thumb for heating a house, it may not be adequate for the occupants of a care facility, especially the elderly and the disabled. Considering that the elderly are more vulnerable to the effects of cold, the ideal temperatures in these establishments will likely be higher than in regular houses. As a result, seventy percent or more of a nursing home's energy costs are attributable to the heating system. 

In most care centers, the building is heated by a massive boiler. However, the boiler's energy inefficiency increases with age. Therefore, replacing the boiler with a new one or making the move to a condensing gas or natural gas boiler can significantly reduce monthly energy costs. Research shows that these two are 92-95% more efficient.  

Central heating systems that run on biomass fuels like wood pellets, logs, and chips are another option for nursing homes. Using a biomass heating system can save nursing homes up to £960 per year in energy costs compared to using an older electrical heating system.

Water Heater

In Europe, the price per liter for water heated with electricity ranges from $0.2 to $0.8. Each individual consumes roughly 30 liters of hot water each day, which equates to a monthly expense of €3.5 to €8. Additionally, water heaters consume power around the clock, whether they are actively heating water or not. Because of this, heating and cooling account for 12% of a care facility's total energy use.

Shower heads and faucet aerators that minimize water use can help you save money on your water heater. It is also important to promptly repair any leaky or leaking faucets. Insulating the hot water tank and supply lines is also advised to extend the usable temperature range of heated water and reduce heating costs. Considering that only 0.5% of fresh water is suitable for human consumption, conserving water through these measures becomes even more crucial for environmental sustainability.

Washers and Dryers

At the very least, laundry appliances account for 14% of total energy usage, and most nursing homes provide their own laundry services as an integral aspect of their care. However, energy usage rises when laundromats at nursing homes rely on antiquated machines. For this reason, nursing homes must upgrade to more modern washing machines and dryers. As an added bonus, it can help reduce the use of nonrenewable resources. This reduces pollution caused by power generation and, in turn, lowers the cost of electricity for families and businesses. 

But before you go out and buy brand-new washers and dryers, make sure to verify their energy ratings. Careful consideration of these factors will reveal which of these options is most suited to the requirements of a care facility.

The Takeaway

Continuous operation of a care facility means constant energy use, much of which is wasted. Because of this, nursing homes must adopt energy-saving policies so that the healthcare industry can make the most of its reduced funding.