A look at how to make your practice more energy efficient.
As we continue to see the effect of climate change on the environment, people will be considering ways to reduce their impact. Many will be looking for sustainable products in the shops, choosing to switch to renewable energy sources, and looking for ways to reduce their energy use. Travel, home energy usage, and the amount of single-use plastic individuals use are the major contributors to a person’s carbon footprint.
However, the energy usage required to run a business, especially a dental practice, is even higher – and the equipment which contributes to this is often more niche. This can make it more challenging for dental practices to cut down and become more energy efficient. The latest technological developments mean that even specialist equipment is becoming more eco-friendly while maintaining high-performance standards.
Environmental impact of the dental practice
The equipment which uses the most energy in the dental practice tends to be dental chairs, dental compressors and autoclaves. This is in addition to the essential energy uses involved in running any business including heating/cooling systems, powering computers, and lighting. Any equipment which contributes to the comfort of patients and staff, the sterilisation of equipment, and the outcomes of any dental treatment should not be compromised. However, there are a number of changes dental practices might make to boost their energy efficiency while maintaining excellent standards of care.
Research suggests that just one dental consultation could have a significant environmental impact. Single-use clothing and packaging, cleaning materials, wastewater and electricity all contribute to the environmental footprint of a single dental examination. Because of this, dental practices should consider adjustments they could make to use more sustainable alternatives, and therefore reduce their environmental impact, while still maintaining the highest standards of care.
Energy saving solutions in practice
It is recommended that dental practices implement energy-saving strategies to help them cut down their usage and make greener choices. Firstly, it is important to consider the impact of day-to-day energy usage. Things like lighting and heating can usually be much more efficient, by simply turning them off in the evening and over the weekend. Similarly, practice staff should switch off any appliances when they are not in use, so that electricity is not being unnecessarily used in the background.
More specific to dental practices is the effect that investing in more energy-efficient equipment can have on their environmental impact. This is particularly useful in busier dental practices where systems are in constant use. Ensuring these are as energy efficient as possible will dramatically reduce your dental practice’s environmental impact.
Importance of maintaining high standards of sterilisation
Cleanliness is vital for the safe running of any dental practice. All practices will be familiar with the need to maintain excellent hygiene standards by sterilising instruments, hand washing, and cleaning surfaces. Sterilisation is a regimented process which must be routinely followed and documented to ensure standards are met, and the practice is kept safe. It is important to create a logical and repeatable process featuring a dirty to clean workflow, ideally separate from treatment areas, to avoid cross-contamination.
So, dental practices must ensure high standards of sterilisation and guarantee that their instruments are completely sterile and ready for use by using the correct steriliser. Some models can require lots of water and energy to run each day, so it is important to choose an autoclave which is energy efficient and highly functional for the best outcomes.
The Lisa is the high-end B-type steriliser from W&H, which provides dental practices with the ability to ensure excellent sterilisation while keeping energy use to a minimum. Thanks to its patented Eco Dry+ technology, the Lisa steriliser automatically adjusts the drying time based on the size of the load, minimising energy usage. This also has the added benefit of increasing the lifespan of your instruments. In addition, the Lisa steriliser will also arrive in environmentally friendly packaging, which is entirely reusable and recyclable – made out of cardboard and other fully biodegradable materials.
Reducing your carbon footprint in every area of life is important, including in the workplace. With simple adjustments, including turning off appliances when not in use, switching off lights at the end of the day, and investing in more energy-efficient appliances where possible, you and your practice could make a big difference and benefit from the savings.
For more information call 01727 874990 or email office.uk@wh.com or visit www.wh.com/en_uk
References available on request.