Energy Audit Case Study for Medical Centre

Client: West Cornwall-based Medical Centre
Service Provided: Energy Audit by Community Energy Plus
Objective: Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency and sustainability

Background

In a bid to reduce operational costs, lower carbon emissions, and futureproof its facility, we conducted a comprehensive energy audit to identify practical, cost-effective measures to improve energy efficiency and sustainability across the medical centre site.

Audit Overview

The audit included an in-depth assessment of the building’s energy use, providing recommendations tailored to the medical centre’s specific needs, offering both immediate savings and long-term sustainability benefits. With expert guidance, small steps and smart investments can yield lasting environmental and economic benefits.

Key Recommendations

Short-Term Actions:

• Upgrade to a smart electricity meter to monitor and manage energy use more effectively.

• Switch to a 100% renewable energy tariff to immediately lower the centre’s carbon footprint.

• Encourage energy-saving behaviour, such as reducing the reliance on plug-in heaters and turning off unused equipment.

Medium-Term Actions:

• Upgrade lighting to energy-efficient LED systems equipped with motion sensors to cut unnecessary energy use.

• Improve loft insulation and seal draughts around doors and windows to maintain indoor temperatures and reduce heating demand.

Long-Term Actions:

• Install rooftop solar panels to generate clean, renewable energy on-site.

• Replace the existing gas boiler with a heat pump for low-carbon and sustainable heating and cooling.

Results and Impact

By following the recommended improvements, the medical centre could save over £24,000 per year on energy bills. Additionally, the upgrades would significantly reduce the building’s carbon emissions, aligning with their broader environmental goals; would offer improved comfort for staff and patients; and offer greater resilience against changing energy costs and and climate-related challenges.

Conclusion

This case study illustrates how a tailored energy audit and strategic upgrades, ranging from behaviour changes to adopting renewable technology, can dramatically improve the sustainability and cost-efficiency of medical centres such as in this case. The medical centre serves as a model for how small steps and smart investments can yield lasting environmental and economic benefits.