About This Lesson
Operating a successful dental practice requires careful management of your overhead expenses. Energy efficiency is a great place to start. Not only can you make running your practice more cost-effective, you’ll be doing your part to help protect the environment. Every business regardless of its activities needs to think about what it can do to operate more sustainably, and healthcare providers such as dental practices are no exception. Moreover, noteworthy efforts towards energy efficiency can help create a positive impression on your patients and show them that your practice is well-managed. Here are some of the best things that you can do to make your office more energy efficient.
Use a Renewable Energy Source
Installing a renewable source such as solar panels can help you reduce or altogether eliminate your reliance on electricity that’s generated with carbon emissions. Solar panels are a strong visual demonstration to your customers that your practice is forward-thinking and uses advanced technology. The best solar panels can generate a significant amount of kilowatts so that you can power lighting, equipment, or even heating and cooling equipment. It will also provide you with an important backup power source in the event of an outage that occurs while you’re treating patients.
Get Motion Sensors for Lights
Not everyone will remember to turn the lights off when they leave an exam room, but they certainly don’t need to remain on when they’re not being used. Setting them to a timer or a motion sensor can help you avoid lighting areas when you don’t need to. In addition to exam rooms, motion activated lighting could also be used in bathrooms, storage areas, or breakrooms.
Remind Staff to Turn Off Computers
Many offices will leave computers running continuously and let them sleep rather than shutting them down completely. However, even when computers are sleeping, they still use power. Shutting down computers may require allocating for a little extra startup time in the morning, but it will reduce energy waste while also preserving the functionality of your computers.
Keep Your HVAC System Well Maintained
In order to keep your HVAC system performing efficiently, you need to have it cleaned and serviced annually. Over time, evaporator coils will naturally become coated and clogged with dirt and dust. Cleaning can prevent buildup that will make it harder for air to pass through and impede functionality. Have your system professionally maintained at least once a year for optimal efficiency.
Get a Programmable Thermostat
You can avoid having to run your heating and cooling system any longer than necessary to come into a comfortable temperature in the morning and save yourself from having to worry about turning it off when you leave for the day. A programmable thermostat will be compatible with virtually any existing system, and it can help you optimize the efficiency of your cooling and heating. You can schedule it to turn on and off and certain times or adjust the temperature settings at certain times of the day. You can also get a thermostat that you’re able to control remotely in case you’re offsite and realize that you forgot to make a change or you simply want to see how staff is setting the temperature when you’re not there.
Use Energy Efficient Appliances and Equipment
When you purchase appliances for you and your staff to use in the office, you should look for an ENERGY STAR rating. It indicates that an appliance meets high standards for energy efficiency and can operate with less power but without less performance. Older fridges and microwaves, for example, can use a surprisingly high amount of energy. In addition, some of your equipment that’s older or refurbished may not be particularly energy efficient. Equipment used to clean tools or sanitize devices may waste both energy and water.
Taking steps to reduce your energy usage can have a positive impact on your dental practice’s profitability. Making the changes may take a little time and effort initially, but once you’ve gotten into the habit, your new energy-saving initiatives will be easy to maintain.
