Lower wasted energy at your community building or village hall
01/10/2025
The way you use energy in your community building will vary based on several factors, including the building type, its usage and the heating systems and appliances it has. Whether you’re running a scout hut, community building or village hall, there are simple steps you can take to minimise energy waste and lower your bills.
Lighting your building
Automatic/PIR lighting in kitchens & washrooms
Automatic or PIR lighting is activated when someone enters the room. The light stays on for a set period of time, then automatically switches off, unless reactivated by movement, which breaks the infra-red beam.
Installing these devices can deliver large economic savings. This will ensure lights are only on when necessary.
Types of lighting & bulbs
Fluorescent lighting should be replaced with T5 tubes which will reduce energy use by 10-15%. Consider the benefits of replacing standard bulbs with low energy bulbs (for example, LED light bulbs), the savings will be close to 80%. There will be an installation cost, but they will last for much longer and use less energy.
Keeping the heat in your community building
Are areas of the hall draughty?
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy, according to the EST, so tackling this is one of the best first steps you could take! To draught-proof your building, you should block up unwanted gaps that let chilly air in and warm air out. Draughts can be tackled in several places, most commonly around doors and windows, chimneys, skirting boards and loft-hatches. The first areas to check are windows and doors. It is relatively cheap to seal gaps around window frames and doors. This will save energy at once.
Self-closing doors or automatic doors
Draught-proofing your doors is all very well, assuming the doors are closed. With people regularly coming and going it’s hard to make sure the external doors are being closed. Closed doors protect against wind and weather, draughts, and heat loss. Self-closing doors doesn’t have to mean installing expensive automatic doors. The self-closing function can be provided by ‘door closers’, which can be retrofitted to existing doors and are relatively inexpensive.
Insulating your building
Insulating your property is another proactive step in reducing energy bills. By investing in proper insulation, you create a more energy-efficient space that not only keeps heat in the winter, but also stays cooler in the summer. Consider consulting with professionals to assess your current insulation needs and explore options for upgrades that can maximise energy efficiency.
Is everything as it should be on your energy bill?
VAT on your energy bill
Businesses pay VAT at 20% their energy bill. However, some charitable/not-for-profit organisations can pay the lower rate of 5% on ‘non-business’ use. Energy companies won’t apply this automatically for you, and it can sometimes be overlooked by providers. So do check your energy bill and see if VAT is being charged at 5% or 20%. If you think your village hall energy contract should include the lower rate of VAT, you’ll need to complete a VAT declaration, which you should be able to get from your energy supplier.
It is worth noting that suppliers should also back date up to 4 years of over charged VAT.
Send meter readings regularly
Sending your supplier regular meter readings will also keep your payments accurate and prevent estimated bills. If you have a smart meter in your hall, it should send your meter readings automatically. Even if you do have a smart meter, it’s good practise to check the readings on your bill match what your meter is telling you.
Choose paperless billing
If you get paper bills, ask your energy company to change to paperless ones and manage your hall’s account online instead. Some companies charge customers more for paper billing.
Make sure you’re not in hot water
Reduce the use
Encouraging members of the community to be mindful of the amount of hot water and heating they’re using in your building can also make a significant impact.
Simple steps like using the dishwasher (on its eco setting) rather than washing up by hand, installing aerators on hot water taps to reduce flow while maintaining pressure and being conscious of unnecessary heating can make a real difference.
Boiler settings, servicing and replacing
Managing your buildings boiler use is a great way to reduce energy bills while keeping everyone warm and comfortable. By implementing simple heating schedules and regular maintenance checks, you can ensure that your boiler runs efficiently, saving both energy and money. A good time for servicing and maintenance is in the Autumn, while your boiler isn’t working as hard.
You could also consider investing in a smart thermostat or energy-efficient heating controls to further optimise your heating system.
