Are you a restaurant owner and searching to Saving Energy in Restaurants ? It is really difficult because a restaurant uses almost six times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings. Commercial kitchens are believed to use more than eight times the amount of energy compared to an average office kitchen. No matter if you run a small business or global chain, it is important to minimize your energy usage and save money where you can.Here are some tips of Saving Energy in Restaurants on how you can save while focusing on cooking equipment, electrical supplies, or dishwashers and help the environment and your wallet.

Thermostat Adjustment
You can save a large amount of energy just by adjusting the thermostat of your water tank. Try to invest in a smart thermostat that can be programmed remotely so it’s easier to optimize your energy savings in restaurants. By using the night setback mode on your thermostat, you can ensure that you are heating and cooling your restaurant when needed. This will minimize the need for air conditioning and plan it according to the number of people in the restaurant. Get insulated pipes installed for hot water so you can save more in the future.

Staff Training
Train your kitchen staff in a way that they are aware enough to play their role for a better environment. Keep an eye on open freezer and chiller doors as they lose significant energy when left open. Encourage them to conserve energy and it can be as easy as turning off a light switch. This sounds simple, but many restaurants waste hundreds of dollars a month by leaving idle equipment running. Share your tips for Saving Energy in Restaurants with your staff more importantly with the head chef to make them involved in the process more efficiently.


Change Lights
When you think about Saving Energy in Restaurants, the major thing that comes into mind is its lighting. According to reports, thirteen percent of any restaurant’s electricity consumption goes into lighting. You can decrease your energy costs drastically just by switching to energy-efficient light bulbs. You can choose from many options available such as halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). By doing this you are not only saving on your utility costs but also helping the environment by saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Also LED bulbs last up to 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb so it’s like an investment for the future.


Choose the Right Appliances.
Any food service needs a variety of electrical appliances and choosing the right is essential for its future. They are a huge investment and you need to make sure to pick them wisely. While buying your commercial refrigerator try to choose AA + + rated units as they have the lowest running costs. When it is time for picking the dishwashers and blenders look for the energy-efficient options as they are available for the fraction of the price difference but they will help your budget a lot in the long run. Be attentive at the time of purchase and make sure the equipment is up to date the newer the technology, the more efficient it is likely to be. So consider your equipment as an asset for you and buy it carefully.


Kitchen Design
Your kitchen design can directly affect the efficiency of your equipment so plan accordingly. For example, Your refrigeration equipment needs room to breathe and expel hot air as part of the cooling process. Without adequate ventilation space around the unit, it uses more energy to keep cool. So design the kitchen in a way that the heating and cooling of equipment can be managed separately. Place the oven and refrigerators at a distance so that the heat from one can not affect the other. Doing this will not only help for Saving Energy in Restaurants but also help your apparatus last longer.

Energy Audit
The main purpose of doing an audit of your energy use is to be aware and It’s always helpful to have a good understanding of how much energy you use. You can conduct your energy audit by taking a look at your previous energy bills and drawing a comparison. You can also use an online energy tracking tool. This will be very useful because once you have identified how much you spend and where your money is going, you can set goals and figure out which aspects of your restaurant to target. Explore the market that is supplying your energy to you and find out if they are offering you the best deal. Try landing a B2B foodservice deal to maximize the benefit for both parties. Doing this won’t help you cut down on your consumption but it will help you save money.


Maintenance Schedule
No matter what kind of equipment you have in your restaurant. It is very important to ensure that equipment and appliances are all serviced regularly and kept as clean as humanly possible. Make sure to have a deep cleaning schedule on hand. It is essential to clean and maintain your refrigerator to maintain its working condition. Your cleaning person should know how to properly clean cooling coils and replace door gaskets. The commercial appliances are usually covered under warranty and should be maintained at least once a year. But for your ovens, fryers, and other cooking units the schedule should be different and they should be cleaned thoroughly every day. Any dirty equipment which is not running up to speed can increase energy usage. So have a schedule to keep your equipment clean or repair it regularly, you are probably working harder than necessary.


Save Water
When it comes to saving electricity is not the only utility you should save, there is a huge problem of water wastage which often comes in foodservice news. Restaurants usually use large amounts of water to maintain their operations. But there are very simple ways to reduce your water use and lower your water bill. You can install low-flow spray valves in your restaurant which use much less water than older spray valves. Use a water filtration system to prevent calcification and mineral deposits on any equipment that connects to a water line. This will help you immensely as the build-up does not clog the internal components of your equipment and help the unit work to its full potential. Repair all the leaks and faulty taps as soon as possible to avoid any waste of water and energy.


Proper Ventilation
Commercial kitchens are usually very hot as multiple burners and ovens are working in close proximity. But, when the ambient temperature in your kitchen is too high the refrigeration equipment has to work harder to keep food chilled. Try keeping the heat to a minimum so you can ensure the most efficient work of your portable devices and coolers. Install proper ventilation units or condensation hoods over your dishwashers and steam equipment to help remove hot air from your kitchen. They will transfer the heat directly to cookware while the surrounding air remains cool.


Install solar panels
Solar panels are a great source of energy and most importantly they are very low maintenance. Consider installing them as an investment and they will cover your basic electricity bill in no time. Plan solar panel installment during the budgeting of your restaurant’s design to manage it beforehand. They will save you a huge amount in the future and they are environmentally friendly too.

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