“Veterinarians have long been considered the guardians of animal welfare and health” – Nadine Wilson.
With 29 000 veterinarians and 4000 veterinary practices in the UK, it is evident that animal healthcare is a priority for animal-loving Brits and those fond of furry friends.
But to sustain the availability of healthcare, we should add energy efficiency to the list.
With the costs of energy consumption in the business practices of animal guardians on the rise, the sustainability of the animal welfare business is at risk.
This article explores methods to increase and reduce utility costs in veterinary practices.
Energy Needs of a Veterinary Practice
As superheroes of the animal world, veterinarians face stiff energy costs to operate their healthcare practices.
Running a veterinarian practice is expensive, and those costs impact the charges for furry (or non-furry) friend emergencies.
With an average of 20% of fixed costs being spent on energy, veterinary practices have to implement energy conservation plans to keep the cape whilst supplying the cones.
Energy costs consist of overheads, staff, facilities maintenance, premises and examination rooms, products, medicines, and materials used in administering care during the administration of healthcare services.
Energy Efficiency in Veterinary Practices
There are many ways to develop an environmentally friendly, energy-efficient business practice.
The energy needs of veterinarians are practice-dependent, and consumption levels will vary depending on their daily operations.
Energy efficiency is more than switching off the lights; being conscious of the below factors could reduce your energy bill.
Electricity usage
- Veterinary practices contain a variety of equipment and appliances, all of which are electrically powered appliances.
- Medical and surgical equipment requires a constant power source, and switching off appliances or lights is not an option.
- If your practice caters for furry friends to stay overnight after surgical procedures, that means the lights, heating, or air conditioning run 24/7 while your utility bill runs away from you.
- Added to that are the regulatory requirements for health and safety protocol compliance.
Gas supply
- Gas prices are continuously on the rise, and gas usage for the business operations of vets is substantially higher as healthcare administrators.
- In administering health care to animals, veterinary practices require gas for a number of their operations, and saving on gas could free up resources to allocate towards renewable energy solutions in practice.
- Operations for veterinary practices require specific energy and gas functions different from a household.
- Switching energy suppliers may save as much as 45% on business gas expenses and is undoubtedly an effective solution to improve energy efficiency.
Ventilation
- Ventilation and air conditioning systems take up a huge portion of your energy consumption.
- Exploring an energy-efficient system will save vast amounts of energy and money.
Water usage
- The water usage of veterinary practices is substantial, and water waste is the most significant contributor to consumption.
- A regular inspection of the business water supply and pipes will ensure there isn’t water waste through leaking pipes.
- Recycling solutions can also be implemented to save on water use.
Renewable energy
- Green energy solutions offer solutions for efficient energy usage.
- Healthcare providers are implementing renewable energy solutions, and veterinarians are getting on board.
- The installation of solar panels for energy generation will provide long-term solutions to future power interruptions or blackouts.
Switch Energy Suppliers
They say that if you want loyalty, you should buy a dog. When it comes to your energy supplier, no loyalty is needed, and there is no reason for you not to switch suppliers if better rates and service options are on the table.
Practice location, energy usage, and hours of operation will impact the digits on that utility bill.
Shopping for a new business energy supplier more suited to cover practice energy needs could significantly reduce practice expenses and any related worries.
Conclusion
A proper energy management plan will help veterinary practices become energy efficient.
They can save money, incorporate energy-efficient techniques into the business and partner up with an energy supplier equipped to care for veterinary practice needs.
To answer the question of how much energy a vet should use, in short, as little as practically possible to be energy efficient and still operate at the highest level.
The right energy supplier will provide supply services structured to a veterinarian’s needs. That way, vets can focus on their guardianship of our pets and their superhero-saving skills!
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