Energy efficiency in the salon

Going green doesn't mean pedalling for power or cutting hair in the dark; there are ways you can cut down on your electricity consumption, which in turn will have a major effect on the planet.

The Environment Agency says most energy in the UK comes from non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.

However, these resources are pollutants - and are running out. Burning fossil fuels contributes to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and to global climate change. But what can your salon do to limit its electricity consumption?

• Don't leave lights on when there's no one in the salon.
• Make sure you are using energy-efficient bulbs and not old-fashioned low-efficiency fluorescent tubes. Energy efficient bulbs might seem more expensive to buy, but they last longer and waste less energy.
• There's no need to leave any equipment on standby. It's far more economical to turn appliances off. If you have a photocopier, computers or televisions that aren't being constantly used, turn them off each time you have finished using them.
• Don't forget - screen savers do not save electricity they simply protect the screen. Leaving a photocopier on overnight uses enough energy to print more than 5,000 A4 copies.
• The Environment Agency says if you reduce the temperature in your buildings by 1°C you can cut your heating bills by 10%. It's best to set your thermostats to between 16°C and 19°C.
• Check your water heater thermostat and make sure it's at the right temperature. You shouldn't have to add cold water to hot water to make it the right temperature. Instead, turn your thermostat down.
• Lighting will account for a large proportion of your electricity bills, so make sure your windows are kept clean to ensure your salon gets as much natural light as possible.
• If there are areas of the salon that aren't in constant use, you could fit a PIR operating system whereby a light will operate when someone enters the area and switch off when there is no further movement.
• It's also worth regularly servicing your heating system. Costs can increase by about 30% if the system is poorly maintained. Close windows when the heating is on and don't heat unused rooms.
• How you launder your towels will have a major impact on the environment. Haircare company Davines says if everyone switched to cold water with their washing machines, we could save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. It says cold water cleans laundry just as well as hot water.
• If you need to update your boiler then a condensing boiler is the most efficient. Up to 90% of the energy used for providing hot water could be wasted because of heat loss and system inefficiencies.