Saving Energy – Reducing Electricity Use 

Review GP practice electricity use

Identify current electricity use (kWh). Ideally by month.  This information can be found on electricity bills.  

Electricity audit

Perform an electricity audit of the practice by walk round: 

• Identify electrical equipment involved in heating and cooling space (e.g., electric fans, air conditioning) and water (electric boilers) 

• Identify and count type and number of electrical appliances by room type e.g. kitchen (kettle, dishwasher, fridge etc), clinical room (computer equipment, medical (e.g. drug fridge, electric bed, ophthalmoscope etc), admin rooms (computer/IT, peripherals etc). 

Outside help

You might like to team up with a local energy charity or company to have a professional energy audit done.  The financial savings can often be significant and repeated annually so could potentially cover the initial cost of the audit.  

Discuss

Look at the electricity bills and the results of the audit with your practice lead team.  Discuss and plan improvements (see below).  

Electricity & Lighting plan

Tailor this Electricity and Lighting plan for your practice.  Consider the following areas in the plan: 

• Who is responsible for what and when e.g. in hours, out of hours, holidays etc.   

• ‘Default is off’ – electrical equipment only on when in use. 

• ‘Power down’ – turn off (at the switch/plug) lights, computers/IT equipment, clinical equipment and use. 

• Natural lighting or cooling e.g. through open windows (inc natural light), tree planting (shade/cooling in the summer). 

• Automatic external/revolving doors to prevent heat loss.  

• Reduce amount of equipment used e.g. reduce number of bulbs in use to provide sufficient lighting, switch to central printers rather than one in each room.  

• Automatic sensors to switch off equipment when not used e.g. movement sensors for lighting 

• Using timers or kill switches for equipment in whole rooms. 

• Reduce number of fridges if possible 

• Carefully consider the use of AI technology which has a significant carbon footprint.  

• Change to more efficient light bulbs e.g. LED and reduce brightness on monitors. 

• When equipment reaches the end of it’s life, replace with energy efficient models and ideally electric, not gas. 

• Consider installing a smart meter.  

• Consider renewable energy – use a 100% renewable electricity company and consider installing own renewables. 

Behaviour Change Programme

Advertise the plan and tips for energy saving to patients and staff using newsletters, posters, stickers, videos and incentives.  Ensure staff are aware of their responsibilities. Provide regular reminders.   Here is a Newsletter article on saving energy and helpful resources which can be adapted for patients and staff. 

Monitor electricity use

Keep an eye on the electricity bills to see if use has reduced.  You might like to do occasional sweeps or repeat the audit to see if change has happened.  

Study

Review the results, summarise learning, share with practice team + decide if any changes are needed to improve the process. Use the Project Monitoring form to keep track of the project and when it might need reviewing.