Personal care services energy usage

Types of businesses in this category include tanning salons, tattoo parlors, saunas, steam baths, ear piercing services, hair removal and weaving salons.

Energy use at a glance

The best places to save, while keeping it comfortable for your customers, would be lighting and cooling.

Tips and strategies to help save

• 54-watt T5 fluorescent lamps work well for high-bay applications, while 27-watt T5s work well for most other uses.
• Consider installing motion-activated occupancy sensors in areas that aren’t used by clients or employees; such as bathrooms and utility closets.
• Install reflective window film to reduce solar heat gain and help keep cooling costs down. Newer window films are not as dark or iridescent-looking as older window films, so building occupants can see outside on most days.
• Use washing machines during off-peak hours, when electricity prices are the lowest. Buy enough towels for use during business hours so laundry can be done at night. Use front-loading washing machines with high-speed spin cycles to save water and energy used for drying.
• Gas dryers and natural gas-fired heaters cost less to run than electric clothes dryers and water heaters.
• When buying new equipment that use a lot of energy, such as hood hair dryers, consider wattage and performance.

Actual savings may vary and will depend on various factors, including geographic location, weather conditions, equipment installed, usage rates and similar factors.