As a restaurant owner or franchisee, you’re always looking for ways to cut costs and improve efficiency. Making your restaurants and equipment more energy efficient is a great way to do both. Below are several tips — but first, a reality check.
Consider these sobering statistics from E Source:
- U.S. restaurants use an annual average of 38 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 111 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot
- Cooking makes up roughly two-thirds of natural gas usage, and the remaining third is split fairly evenly between water heating and space heating
- Most restaurants see the highest electricity usage for refrigeration and cooking
You’re working with extremely tight margins. Making your restaurants more energy efficient results in directly increased profits. Do it with the right partner and you will see returns month over month, and year over year.
If we can offer one piece of advice, it is to make energy efficiency changes based on data, not on what is trending in your industry. GSE Pro makes data-informed decisions for all of our clients in North America so that the changes implemented are highly sustainable and continue to drive results.
How To Make Your Restaurants More Energy Efficient
Here are some tips on how to make your restaurants more energy efficient:
- Use energy efficient lighting. LED lights use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last longer, so they’ll save you money in the long run.
- Use energy efficient appliances. Look for ENERGY STAR certified appliances when shopping for new equipment. ENERGY STAR appliances are up to 30 percent more energy efficient than standard models.
- Educate your staff on energy conservation. Make sure your staff knows about simple things they can do to conserve energy, such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use.
- Implement equipment maintenance tracking. Keep your equipment in good working order by tracking maintenance and repairs. This will help you avoid energy-wasting breakdowns.
Energy Efficient Lighting
One of the easiest ways to make your restaurants more energy efficient is to switch to energy efficient lighting. LEDs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last longer, so they’ll save you money in the long run.
Make the switch to LEDs today and start seeing a difference on your energy bill tomorrow.
Energy Efficient Appliances
Another way to make your restaurants more energy efficient is to use energy efficient appliances. Look for ENERGY STAR certified appliances when shopping for new equipment. ENERGY STAR appliances are up to 30 percent more energy efficient than standard models.
Investing in ENERGY STAR appliances is a great way to save money and conserve energy.
Energy Conservation Education
Educating your staff on energy conservation is another key way to make your restaurants more energy efficient. Make sure your staff knows about simple things they can do to conserve energy, such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use.
A little education can go a long way in saving energy and money.
Equipment Maintenance Tracking
Keeping your equipment in good working order is important for energy efficiency. Track maintenance and repairs to help avoid energy-wasting breakdowns.
Regular maintenance will help extend the life of your equipment and save you money in the long run.
Monitoring your energy usage is a great way to detect energy leaks. Look for any sudden spikes that could indicate an energy leak. Fixing energy leaks is a great way to conserve energy and lower your energy costs.
Making your restaurants more energy efficient is a great way to save money and boost your bottom line. Implement these tips today and start seeing results tomorrow.
Get An Informed Partner
GSE Pro is the restaurant industry’s leading provider of energy efficiency solutions. We have helped thousands of restaurants save money and conserve energy.
We offer a free, no-obligation energy assessment of your restaurant. We will review your energy usage and make recommendations on how you can save money and increase efficiency.
Get started today and see the difference GSE Pro can make for your business. You can also explore more energy-saving trends for fast food restaurants and learn more about demand response management.
