Energy Efficiency and Your Restaurant

Restaurants use about 2.5 times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings. Energy costs have been increasing at a rate of 6 to 8 percent per year. Investing in energy efficiency is the best way to protect your business against rising energy prices.

You can reduce your restaurant's energy consumption by following cost Saving Tips provided by Energy Star.

Buy ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. If you're in the market for new equipment, think in terms of life-cycle costs, which include purchase price, annual energy costs, and other long-term costs associated with the equipment. High-efficiency appliances could cost more upfront, but significantly lower utility bills can make up for the price difference.

Cut idle time. If you leave your equipment ON when it is not performing useful work, it costs you money. Implement a startup/shutdown plan to make sure you are using only the equipment that you need, when you need it.

Maintain and repair. Leaky walk-in refrigerator gaskets, freezer doors that do not shut, cooking appliances that have lost their knobs—all these "energy leaks" add up to money wasted each month. Don't let everyday wear and tear drive up your energy bills. The pie chart illustrates the average energy consumption of a full-service restaurant. Findings show a general energy use rate of 35% for food preparation, 28% heating and cooling, 18% sanitation, 13% lighting, and 6% refrigeration.

Cook wisely. Ovens tend to be more efficient than rotisseries; griddles tend to be more efficient than broilers. Examine your cooking methods and menu; find ways to rely on your more energy-efficient appliances to cook for your customers.

Recalibrate to stay efficient. The performance of your kitchen equipment changes over time. Thermostats and control systems can fail, fall out of calibration, or simply become readjusted. Take the time to do a regular thermostat check on your appliances, refrigeration, dish machines, and hot water heaters and reset them to the correct operating temperature.

Check Our website www.peoplesrestaurantequipco.com for all our Energy Star Products

 

Click here for complete ENERGY STAR® Guide for Restaurants—
Putting Energy Into Profit.

Provided by ENERGY STAR®. For more information
visit www.energystar.gov