Electricity costs have become one of the biggest challenges for tanning salon owners across the UK. Knowing how to reduce electricity costs in your tanning salon is now essential to stay profitable without compromising results. At Best Sunbeds, we’ve helped hundreds of UK salons modernise their equipment and lower running costs — here’s how you can do it too.
Understand Where Your Energy Goes
The Main Power Consumers in a Tanning Salon
To make smart savings, you first need to understand what actually consumes power in your salon.
The main culprits include:
- Sunbeds – the largest energy draw (8–16 kW per device depending on model).
- Ventilation and air conditioning – crucial for client comfort but often inefficient.
- Reception lighting, music systems, and small appliances – smaller impact, but constant use adds up.
Average Energy Use per Session
A typical commercial sunbed consumes between 8–12 kWh per 10-minute session, costing around £0.35–£0.55 per use (depending on your tariff).
Vertical units are slightly more efficient than lying models due to shorter warm-up times and improved airflow.
? Tip: Tracking energy use per session helps you identify your highest-cost devices and plan maintenance before performance drops.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Sunbeds to Reduce Electricity Costs
Modern LED and hybrid systems can help reduce electricity costs in your tanning salon by up to 30%.
The Shift from Fluorescent to LED and Hybrid Systems
Traditional sunbeds rely entirely on fluorescent UV lamps. Modern LED or hybrid systems (combining UV, red, and blue light) can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, while producing a better and more even tan.
For example, the megaSun K11 Air or Ergoline Elements LED are designed to deliver high performance with less heat output, meaning lower energy use and longer component life.
At Best Sunbeds, we supply a full range of next-generation sunbeds that balance efficiency and power — the perfect choice for future-focused salons.
Investing Smartly with Leasing Options
Energy-efficient technology doesn’t have to be expensive upfront. Through our trusted finance partners, you can lease the latest equipment and spread the cost while saving on your monthly energy bills.
? Learn more on our Sunbed Leasing & Finance page.
Replace Lamps at the Right Time
Old Lamps Consume More Power
When lamps degrade, they draw the same amount of electricity but emit less UV light — meaning longer sessions and higher costs.
Typical commercial lamps last between 600–800 hours. Once that limit is reached, output and efficiency drop quickly.
If your clients start saying their tan fades faster or you notice longer warm-up times, it’s a clear sign your lamps need replacing.
? Read our technical guide on How to Track Lamp Usage in Your Salon for practical advice.
Use Efficient Lamp Brands
High-quality lamps like Fanatic and QL Tan deliver maximum UV output with minimal energy loss.
Always replace lamps in complete sets to ensure balanced tanning results across the bed — uneven ageing of lamps can increase power use.
Maintain Your Equipment Regularly
Regular servicing is one of the easiest ways to reduce electricity costs in your tanning salon over the long term.
The Hidden Cost of Poor Maintenance
Blocked filters, dirty glass, or worn-out ballasts make your sunbeds work harder — sometimes using up to 15% more electricity.
A well-maintained sunbed not only lasts longer but also performs more efficiently, reducing both energy use and heat output.
Professional Servicing
Even a 30-minute inspection by a trained technician can make a difference.
Our Best Sunbeds Service Team offers nationwide support, helping you diagnose issues, clean ventilation, and replace components before they cause energy waste.
? Find out more about our Sunbed Service & Repairs.
Optimise Your Salon Environment
Proper ventilation and stable temperature don’t just improve comfort — they also help reduce electricity costs in your tanning salon by minimising fan load and lamp overheating.
Ventilation & Airflow
Efficient ventilation is essential for keeping energy use under control.
Sunbeds expel warm air from the top — connecting a proper 313 mm ventilation duct helps maintain temperature and prevents devices from overheating.
Best Sunbeds engineers have designed and tested complete cubicle systems to ensure perfect airflow and stable performance in every installation.
Room Temperature and Climate Control
Keeping your salon between 22–24°C is ideal for both comfort and efficiency.
Overcooling or excessive heating wastes electricity and can reduce lamp performance. Use smart thermostats to control your environment automatically.
Monitor and Control Usage
Use IDE or Digital Metering Systems
Simple digital counters, such as the IDE system, allow you to monitor the total working hours of your lamps and sunbeds.
It’s one of the easiest and most affordable ways to track energy usage — no need for a full salon management system.
Staff Awareness and Session Scheduling
Small habits matter:
- Switch off idle devices between sessions.
- Schedule peak sessions during off-peak tariff hours.
- Train your staff to report abnormal fan noise or temperature — early signs of inefficiency.
Creating awareness within your team can reduce energy waste by up to 10% monthly.
Increase Profit per Session Instead of Cutting Corners
Upsell Smartly with Tanning Cosmetics
Reducing costs is one side of the equation — increasing profit is the other.
By offering high-quality tanning cosmetics such as Fame Tan, you can boost revenue per client without using any extra electricity.
Selling just a few premium products daily can cover a significant part of your energy expenses while improving customer satisfaction.
Combine Standing & Lying Sessions
Encourage your clients to mix standing and lying sessions in a 2:1 ratio — a method proven to maintain colour while optimising lamp wear and total running time.
It’s also a smart way to extend lamp life and reduce operational hours across devices.
Case Study – How One Salon Cut Energy Costs by 25%
A salon in Oxfordshire upgraded two older fluorescent units to Ergoline LED models and switched to Fanatic 0.3 compliant lamps in their remaining beds.
They also implemented IDE counters and improved ventilation. Within three months:
- Electricity consumption dropped by 25%.
- Session times shortened by 2 minutes on average.
- Client satisfaction and repeat visits increased.
The investment paid off in under a year — proving that energy efficiency can go hand in hand with profitability.
Final Thoughts – The Smart Way to Reduce Electricity Costs in Your Tanning Salon
Reducing energy costs doesn’t mean cutting performance — it’s about working smarter.
By modernising your equipment, maintaining it regularly, and managing your environment wisely, you can lower bills and offer clients a superior tanning experience.
At Best Sunbeds, we specialise in helping UK salons reduce electricity costs, modernise their equipment and boost efficiency.
From energy-efficient sunbeds and professional servicing to leasing options and tanning cosmetics — we’ve got everything you need to run a profitable, sustainable business.
? Contact our sales team today:
? sales@bestsunbeds.co.uk
? +44 7982 620396
This is a very practical and helpful article, especially with current electricity prices in the UK. Reducing running costs is a big concern for tanning salon owners, so the tips around equipment efficiency and day to day energy usage are really valuable.
I’ve been looking for clear advice on how to reduce electricity costs in a tanning salon, and it’s not easy to find information that’s actually relevant to real commercial environments. This breakdown makes it much easier to understand where savings can realistically be made.
Definitely useful reading for anyone managing or planning a UK tanning salon.