l Find out how much your business spends on electricity, gas and fuel.l Go to EnergyCut.info/bills- calculatorl Input the total amounts spent.l The calculator shows how much you pay for energy and how much you’ll save by reducing energy use.

l Install energy displays and appliance monitors.l Monitor your energy use online.l Install ‘smart’ meters?l Use sub-meters?l Understand your energy use.

STEP 1Add up your energy costs

STEP 2Monitor your energy use

l Understand where you are using energy in your business.l Install energy displays and appliance monitors.l Monitor your energy use online via your energy retailer.l Can you install ‘smart’ meters?l Can you use sub-meters?

STEP 3Write an energy action plan

l Roll out a ‘SMART’ plan.l Encourage staff to submit their energy-saving ideas.l Put signs and posters up.l Distribute an info sheet.l Encourage and reward staff when they save energy.

STEP 4Get your staff on board

l What tariffs and fees are you paying for your energy?l Are you in an energy contract?l If you’re not in a contract, call different energy retailers and ask for a better energy deall How many cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) do they charge?l Can they give free energy advice?l What energy reporting can they offer you?

STEP 5Negotiate a better deal

Reducing your energy bills is easier than you think! Follow our simple 20 step plan to help your business save money.

Tip SheetHairdressers

Fremantle hair salon Rock Paper Scissors heat their water using solar power.

LED downlights last up to 25 times long-er than halogen downlights and use up to 83% less electricity.

DID YOU KNOW? Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning costs can be responsible for as much as half of your salon’s energy bills.

l Create a switch-off list for all appliances and equipment.l Measure your after-hours energy use - use as a KPI.l Buy energy-saving plugs.l Automate the switch-off process.l Distribute workplace ‘switch-off’ posters and stickers.l At the end of the day, turn off your WiFi and instant hot water.

STEP 6Switch off and save

l Do a lighting audit of your premises, not just your salon.l Make the most of natural light - it’s free of charge.l Install motion detectors or push-button timer lighting.l Replace halogen downlights with LED downlightsl Replace T8 fluorescent tubes with T5s or LED.l ‘Delamp’: fluoro lighting with two tubes - can you remove one?

STEP 8Cut your lighting bills

l In summer thermostats should be set between 24–27°C. l In winter thermostats should be set between 18–20°C. l Stop staff changing the thermostat.l Install ENERGY STAR® compliant programmable thermostats.

STEP 7Watch your thermostat

l Get as much of your heating, cooling and ventilation as possible from natural sources.l Keep doors, windows and vents closed when your air-conditioning is on.l Don’t heat or cool areas that don’t need it like storerooms.l Get your HVAC systems checked to ensure they’re running at maximum efficiency.l Make sure your HVAC equipment is properly maintained. l Use fans as they cost about two cents per hour to run.

STEP 9Lower your HVAC costs

l Maximising insulation maximises heating and cooling savings.l Identify draughts and take action.l Avoid ‘the oven effect’ - properly shade your premises.l Check our website for questions to ask an insulation installer.l Go for the highest appropriate ‘R’ rated insulation.l Go for the lowest appropriate ‘U’ rated windows.

STEP 10Get comfortable with insulation

DID YOU KNOW? Maintenance is important. Regular cleaning of your hairdryer filters improves their effiency and longevity.

Insulation and draught-proofing can reduce heating and cooling bills by up to 40%.

l Do an equipment energy audit.l Maximise the energy efficiency of all hair equipment, tools and accessoriesl Where possible, activate the energy-saving mode on equipment.l Maintain your equipment and turn it off at the end of the day. l Work out equipment running costs before you buy.l Look at the energy-rating stars: more stars = more savings.l When buying equipment, look for an ENERGY STAR® label.

STEP 12Reduce equipment costs

l Do an eco-driving course.l Keep vehicles well- maintained with tyres inflated correctly.l Minimise load weight and wind resistance.l When planning to buy or lease a new vehicle, visit GreenVehicleGuide.gov.au.l Check-out car-sharing options.l Introduce telecommuting.

STEP 13Save money on transport

l Set fridges at 4°C, and freezers at -15/-18°C. l Keep refrigeration units properly maintained and away from heat.l Leave at least 50–80mm between the wall and the back of your fridge.l Replace faulty fridge and freezer seals.

STEP 14Lower fridge/freezer costs

l Switch off at the powerpoint at the end of the day.l Activate energy-saving settings.l Utilise standby mode.l Buy LED screens with an energy-star rating.l Switch to laptops and consolidate your printers. l Investigate the computer server option.

STEP 11Cut your energy IT costs

“Once staff get into the habit of these measures, they quickly become standard routine,” said co-owner Greig Hardman, Suki Hairdressing.

l With hot water storage tanks, heat water in off-peak. l Set hot water storage temperature at 60°C. Instant hot water at 50°C.l Look for the money-saving stars on your water appliances.l Buy water-saving equipment − look for the WELS label.l Replace your electrical hot water system with a heat pump or solar hot water system (with electrical or gas boost back-up).

STEP 15Reduce hot water costs

For more information visit: EnergyCut.com.au

Government disclaimer: This activity received funding from the Department of Industry and Science. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.

l For more detailed advice about practical ways to improve energy efficiency in your salon visit: EnergyCut.com.au

STEP 20Get further information

l Government grants and rebates may be available to hairdressers to become more energy efficient.l Can you lease new energy-efficient equipment?l Energy efficiency upgrades have an excellent ROI.

l The rising cost of energy has led to a range of new products, services & ideas that save energy.l Introducing these new developments into your salon can reduce its energy operating costs.

STEP 18Financing your upgrades

STEP 19Look out for innovation

l If you are leasing your premises, work with the building owner to make your salon more energy efficient.l Check the Federal Government’s ‘Tenant’s Guide to Green Leases’ and ‘Green Lease Handbook’ for landlords.l If you set up a salon in a shopping centre or office block, move into one that is NABERS-rated.

STEP 17Building lease efficiency

Hair On Wilkes have installed flow restrictors on their spray taps which saves energy on hot water without compromising the customer’s experience.

l For solar panels, you will need a north-facing roof.l Get Tier 1 or Tier 2 solar PV panels.l Get ‘Small-scale Technology Certificates’. Can you get solar feed-in tariffs from your energy retailer?l Installers need to be accredited by the ‘Clean Energy Council’.

STEP 16Save money with solar