City of Roseville

Hair salons need bright lighting throughout the business and in individual stalls to provide the best service, and that can make up a large percentage of a salon’s energy use after space heating (figure 1). Salons also use large amounts of heated water for hair washing and on-site laundry. And these businesses use a lot of electricity to power electric-resistance tools. These are all necessary for providing good service, but you can always find ways to reduce your energy use and lower your utility bill. In your salon or barber shop, adjust heating, cooling, lighting, and plug loads especially in spaces where they’re actively being used.

Average energy-use data

Figure 1: Fuel consumption by end use

Data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that space heating, other end uses, and lighting account for just over 72% of fuel consumption in service buildings like hair salons. And water heating and space cooling account for another 15.8%. Fuels can include electricity, natural gas, and other sources. Note that the EIA considers salons, including beauty parlors and barber shops, to be service buildings. The service building category also includes businesses like vehicle service, dry cleaners, and car washes.

Quick fixes

Turning things down

Save energy by turning equipment down to minimum levels at certain times or installing more-efficient equipment.

Turning things off

Manage plug loads

Plug load is the energy used by equipment plugged into an electrical outlet. In general, then, it’s not the energy used for heating, cooling, or building-wide lighting. There are two ways to save energy with plug loads: turning a device down to a low-power state or turning a device completely off to stop drawing power. You can use both strategies depending on the equipment and how often you use it.

Longer-term solutions

Replacing old, inefficient equipment maximizes the energy-saving potential—and therefore the cost-saving potential—of your facility. The best time to consider replacement is when existing equipment is over 10 years old.

Choose the right HVAC system

Think about how you’ll replace your HVAC equipment if it fails. Ask suppliers to recommend high-efficiency replacements for aging equipment. Then, when the equipment fails, you already know which equipment you’ll choose.

If you reduce energy consumption and heating loads by installing energy-efficient technologies, you might be able to use a smaller-sized HVAC system when you need to replace it. Ask a contractor to help you calculate the sizing. Document the specifications for replacement equipment so that you can access them when the time comes for a new purchase. And update the specifications every few years.

Use less hot water with efficient equipment and sanitization

When your hair salon needs to upgrade its water heating or laundry equipment, choose a more-efficient model to reduce energy use and costs. Consider using cold-water detergents to save more on water-heating costs.

Upgrade to efficient lighting and daylighting

Lighting upgrades require the lowest investment for the returns they yield. And lighting upgrades have some of the shortest simple payback periods of any energy efficiency upgrade—often less than a year. Design lighting that uses a mix of natural and artificial light sources to increase guest comfort and reduce energy costs.