Green Salon Collective (GSC) was founded in 2020 by environmental experts, campaigners and beauty professionals, with an aim to help member salons in the UK and Ireland to responsibly dispose of their waste.

Here, GSC shares guidance from freelancer, Jackie Edwards, who formally worked in environmental health, on how to source a sustainable location for your beauty business.

Finding a sustainable location is one of the main challenges facing salon owners who are about to open their business. It plays an important role in the success or failure of operations determining income and expense levels. Furthermore, a sustainable business location can create long-term value, fostering company longevity.

Building certification

Hiring the services of an estate agent is a good bet if you want to rent or buy a sustainable space for your salon. They know the market well, have information advantages and can offer you a piece of property for rent or for sale that is suitable to your needs and budget. However, if you decide to do it yourself, know that there are only 13,842 buildings that are certified green in the UK.

But, it is still possible to find a location that will decrease your carbon footprint and contribute to a greener environment. First, look at the certification of a building. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the age of the property plays a big role in determining its energy efficiency as over time, building techniques and regulations have improved.

You will want to rent or buy something that is newly built or at least a property that was not constructed before 1900.

Utilities are recurring costs for your salon and as such, you must put your business in a building that is energy efficient. Not only will you save money in heating and cooling, but you will also reduce emissions. Ideally, a building that is rated C and above is considered energy saving, with A being the highest rating attributed to edifices.

Building insulation

A well-insulated space is also something that you should seriously consider when looking for a salon location. Good insulation results to lower heating and cooling costs for your business, while enhancing the comfort of your clients. They should not feel too cold or warm. Look at ceilings and walls, and see if there are mouldy spots or leaks indicating that the humidity is high. Check windows and doors if they are double glazed. Ask the building owner if windows are of the low-emissivity type. Research shows that a metallic oxide coating over glass inserted in double glazed windows can reduce heating costs by as much as 10%.

Lighting & other equipment

You will also need a heating or cooling system that you can control with a programmable thermostat. By minimising heating and air conditioning, you save money and decrease carbon emissions. It is vital as well that you service your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system regularly to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Renewable sources of generating electricity are economical and kinder to the planet, but if they are not available, there are several ways to lower power consumption:

• Use light sensors in bathrooms, back offices and other areas with low foot traffic.
• Switch to LED lighting and buy energy-efficient (Energy Star) appliances.
• Unplug salon equipment that is not not in use and switch off non-essential lights in areas where there are no clients.

Visit Green Salon Collective’s website, Facebook and Instagram accounts and learn about the solutions it offers for your beauty business. Or email hello@greensaloncollective.com to book a free session with a representative.