By Ellie Gabel, Contributor
Restaurants waste a lot of energy throughout the day. Dinner and lunch rushes, transitioning staff and pleasing customers can distract from this priority. But as a restaurant owner, it is important to remain as energy-efficient as possible. Energy efficiency reduces food waste, carbon emissions and costs.
Learn how to save energy and keep your restaurant sustainable.
Biggest Hidden Energy Wasters in Restaurants
Many aspects of a restaurant consume a significant amount of energy. Below are some common ones you may not have considered.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators are a necessary but high-energy appliance. Because they must be constantly on to preserve and maintain food, they are consistently consuming energy. Fridges must also be maintained at a specific industry-standard temperature to keep food fresh. Cheaper refrigerators break down easily and waste energy on repairs.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers consume gallons of water during each restaurant shift. Steady streams of customers produce many dishes, so the dishwasher is typically always running.
Lights
When staff are in a rush, they may turn on the lights in a room and forget to turn them off. Unoccupied rooms, such as bathrooms and closets, often have consistent lighting. Higher brightness levels also increase energy use.
HVAC Systems
HVAC systems are typically left on consistently in restaurants to maintain a comfortable temperature for customers, especially during different seasons. Other HVAC systems are left on overnight to maintain a consistent temperature, contributing to energy waste.
Gas-Powered Appliances
Appliances, such as stoves, may be gas-powered. Because of the products of combustion from gas, these appliances waste energy and contribute to pollution through carbon emissions. However, to avoid the long process of turning them on, staff tend to leave these appliances on all day, furthering the issue.
Ways Restaurants Can Save Energy
Restaurants need to reassess their energy usage to minimize ecological impact and reduce costs. Commercial buildings waste about 30% of their energy on average. There are many ways businesses can save energy and increase their efficiency. Below are some helpful examples.
Smart Appliances
Smart appliances are natural energy savers. They are programmed to turn off or go into idle mode when not in use. They also analyze energy waste and provide solutions for reduced consumption. These appliances increase efficiency as well, which can attract more customers to the establishment.
Motion-Sensor Lights
Motion-sensor lights turn off when no one is in the room and even control the dimness to reduce light pollution. Install these in bathrooms, hallways, closets, and even refrigerators.
Renewable Energy
Switch to renewable energy sources at your restaurant. Installing solar panels or using hydropower saves energy and reduces pollution from gas-powered appliances. Advertise your renewable solutions to bring in eco-friendly customers.
Durability and Maintenance
Choose products that last longer. Faulty, inexpensive appliances waste more energy and generate harmful e-waste when discarded. Buying appliances and materials with increased durability saves energy and reduces maintenance and replacement costs.
Remember Sustainability
Reducing energy waste coincides with sustainability. Choose energy-saving products and implement waste reduction strategies. You are helping your restaurant while aiding the environment. Restaurants are big polluters, so limiting waste whenever possible is essential. It may also boost your sales, since customers are increasingly seeking sustainable establishments.
Discovering Energy Wasters
Restaurants and other commercial establishments waste a lot of energy. Combat this by identifying wasteful areas and purchasing or reworking equipment to reduce those numbers to save you money and help the planet.
