Dental practices have consistent and sometimes high energy demand due to clinical equipment, sterilisation systems, HVAC requirements, lighting, specialist suction units, air compressors and IT systems. Many practices operate long hours, maintain controlled temperatures, and use electrically intensive equipment for infection control. Understanding monthly energy costs is essential for financial planning, compliance and long-term operational efficiency.
Typical monthly energy usage in dental practices
Dental surgeries mainly use electricity, with limited gas usage unless the premises has gas-powered space heating or hot water. Clinical equipment, sterilisation units and HVAC systems significantly increase consumption.
| Practice size | Electricity (kWh/month) | Gas (kWh/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (1–2 surgeries) | 1,200–2,500 | 300–800 |
| Medium (3–5 surgeries) | 2,600–4,800 | 700–1,800 |
| Large (6–10+ surgeries, specialist equipment) | 5,000–9,000+ | 1,500–3,500+ |
Practices offering orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, sedation rooms or on-site digital labs generally use more energy due to additional equipment and extended operating hours.
Estimated monthly energy cost for a dental practice
A medium sized dental practice with three to five surgeries generally spends between £895 and £1,655 per month on combined electricity and gas. High patient volume and frequent sterilisation cycles push costs toward the upper end.
| Practice size | Electricity cost | Gas cost | Total monthly energy cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | £330–£715 | £80–£180 | £410–£895 |
| Medium | £715–£1,250 | £180–£405 | £895–£1,655 |
| Large | £1,300–£2,340+ | £405–£720+ | £1,705–£3,060+ |
These estimates include standing charges and reflect typical clinical operation hours of 8–10 hours per day, five to six days a week.
Which dental equipment uses the most energy?
| Equipment or system | Electricity (kWh/month) | Gas (kWh/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Autoclaves and sterilisation | 150–500 | N/A |
| Air compressors and suction pumps | 200–600 | N/A |
| HVAC and air filtration | 300–1,200 | 150–400 |
| Clinical lighting and LED operatory lamps | 100–350 | N/A |
| X-ray machines and CBCT scanners | 80–250 | N/A |
| IT systems, servers and reception | 150–400 | N/A |
| Hot water systems | 120–300 | 100–350 |
| General lighting and heating | 200–800 | 150–400 |
Autoclaves, HVAC systems and suction equipment are typically the largest consumers.
Key factors affecting energy use in dental practices
Number of surgeries
Each additional chair increases suction, compressor use and sterilisation demand.
Infection control requirements
Autoclaves, washer-disinfectors and regular handpiece sterilisation cycles increase electricity usage substantially.
Ventilation and air filtration
Since COVID-19, many practices maintain enhanced ventilation systems, increasing heating and cooling energy demand.
Digital equipment
CBCT scanners, intraoral scanners, milling machines and 3D printers add further kWh consumption.
Patient volume
High-footfall practices run more sterilisation cycles and equipment hours per day.
Seasonal impact on energy bills
| Season | Typical increase | Primary driver |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | +20% to +40% | Heating, ventilation, longer heating cycles in waiting rooms |
| Summer | +10% to +20% | Cooling and increased HVAC workload |
| Spring/autumn | Baseline | Minimal temperature control demands |
How to reduce dental practice energy cost
| Strategy | Saving potential | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Switch to energy-efficient autoclaves | 15–25% | Newer models use less water and electricity |
| Install LED lighting in surgeries and corridors | 8–15% | High usage makes LEDs cost-effective |
| Use smart HVAC controls | 10–20% | Avoid unnecessary heating and cooling out of hours |
| Maintain compressors and suction units | 10–15% | Prevents strain and excessive energy use |
| Insulate hot water systems and pipework | 6–10% | Reduces demand on boilers |
| Switch to a fixed business tariff | 8–12% | Provides predictable billing for clinical environments |
Why energy management matters for dental practices
Energy typically represents 4% to 10% of a dental practice’s operating costs, rising to 15% in larger multi-surgery practices with digital labs and heavy sterilisation loads. Effective energy management helps practices reduce overheads, comply with sustainability goals and maintain cost-efficient care delivery.
Save money on your dental practice energy bills with EnergyCosts.co.uk
Dental practices can reduce costs through tariff optimisation, improving building efficiency and upgrading high-usage equipment. To find the best business energy tariffs for UK dental premises, use EnergyCosts.co.uk to compare business energy tariffs and secure the most competitive rates.
FAQ
A medium sized dental practice with three to five surgeries generally spends between £895 and £1,655 per month on combined electricity and gas. High patient volume and frequent sterilisation cycles push costs toward the upper end.
A standard practice with two to three surgeries usually consumes between 1,200 and 3,000 kWh of electricity per month. At an average rate of 26p per kWh, this results in monthly electricity costs of roughly £330 to £780 before standing charges.
Most spend more on electricity because autoclaves, suction pumps, compressors, IT systems and lighting run for long hours. Gas use is mainly for heating and hot water, so practices with electric heating tend to have minimal gas usage.
Autoclaves, suction pumps, air compressors, HVAC/ventilation systems and clinical lighting are the main energy consumers. Autoclaves alone can use 150 to 500 kWh per month depending on sterilisation workload and model efficiency.
Energy bills can increase by 20% to 40% in winter due to higher heating loads and longer HVAC run times. Waiting rooms and treatment areas require stable temperatures to maintain patient comfort and infection-control standards.
Yes. Installing LED lighting, using smart heating timers, maintaining compressors, insulating hot water systems and improving ventilation control can reduce bills by 10% to 20% without major equipment upgrades.
Gas consumption ranges from 300 to 1,800 kWh per month depending on practice size and heating type. This usually costs between £80 and £405 monthly, based on average UK business rates.
They do add to consumption, but not as much as sterilisation or HVAC systems. A CBCT scanner typically uses 80 to 250 kWh per month, depending on the number of scans performed.
Energy usually accounts for 4% to 10% of running costs, rising to 15% in larger multi-surgery practices with extensive sterilisation and digital lab equipment.
Yes. Fixed-rate tariffs offer predictable monthly costs and help manage budgeting. Practices with stable daily operating hours and predictable usage patterns typically save 8% to 12% annually on fixed contracts.