With the cost of living crisis and the prices of energy rising, businesses across the country are wondering what they can do to ‘survive the winter’. The serviced accommodation industry is no different, so we’ve put together 5 helpful tips on how to save energy across your serviced accommodation portfolio.
1. Correct lighting
Little changes can add up. A simple trick is to switch your traditional lightbulbs to more energy efficient bulbs. LED bulbs provide the same amount of light, but require less energy to do so. The initial outlay on the lightbulb might be slightly more expensive, but you’ll easily make the difference back through lower electricity bills.
Whilst on the subject of lighting, it might be worth switching some light switches to motion sensor. This could be particularly beneficial in hallways and bathrooms, where lights can easily be accidentally left on. Motion sensor lights only switch on when motion is detected, and can even be set to a timer.
2. Thermostat
Install a smart thermostat, which will give you full control over how and when you heat your property. With smart thermostats, you control how and when you heat your property from literally anywhere in the world, on your schedule.
Upgrading to a smart thermostat will give you the power to control your thermostats from your smartphone and not worry about heating being left on at a stupidly high temperature, all day long… with windows open! You can set your heating to come on at certain times of the day, and set the temperature to within a reasonable range (we recommend between 18-22 degrees). Smart thermostats can then be locked, so guests can’t override the set schedule without knowing the passcode.
Another bonus feature of smart thermostats, you can see exactly where you use the most energy and the opportune places to save. Energy Charting data allows you to identify areas where you can make minor adjustments. This can have a large positive impact on your energy bill.
We can advise you on the best smart thermostat on the market to suit your budget and requirements.
3. Appliances
Are you appliances energy efficient? What rating is your washing machine?
The highest possible rating for appliances is A+++, and the lowest for certain appliances will be F or G, with a considerable energy saving difference between them. In many cases, appliances such as cookers will all be rated A+ or higher, but older appliances are likely to be considerably less energy efficient.
If you have the resources to upgrade one or two of your older appliances, it could be a worthwhile investment, especially with so many energy-saving smart appliances available on the market. Not only will it help save you money on your energy bills, but it’s also great for reducing the environmental impact too.
4. Property insulation
Property improvements and renovations, from fitting insulation to replacing an old boiler, can help save on bills and reduce carbon emissions.
If your property is listed on the Airbnb booking platform, Airbnb are working with Energy Saving Trust to create personalised home energy efficiency checks and action plans for all hosts, including information about potential steps they can take to improve the efficiency of their home. Hosts can apply to Airbnb for a grant of £1,000, or £3,000 for ‘Superhost’s’, to help pay for the initial outlay of these energy improvements. We can help with your application 🙂
5. Talk to your guests
Finally, a great way to ensure you keep your energy bills down this winter, is to just simply talk to your guests. Whether you simply write a little note in your welcome message, or leave posters around the house. You could try posting a few “rules” for guests, asking them to use cold water and shorter cycles when possible to help you save energy, or leave instructions for them to run the dishwasher only once it’s full.
It sounds simple, but often it is the simplest of tricks that help.
We hope you’ve found these 5 tips helpful. If you’d like any more information on our energy saving ideas and how they can help in your property, we’re always available for a chat, so feel free to get in touch.
