Four Tips for Using ENERGY STAR in Your Restaurant - Part 4

There are many incentives for choosing ENERGY STAR® appliances for your commercial kitchen. Your choice impacts the environment of our country. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, commercial kitchen equipment swaps that have already been made by restaurants have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 130,000 metric tons, which amounts to removing 25,000 cars off our roads. Also, purchasing the ENERGY STAR® commercial kitchen package for new kitchen construction or as a replacement for aging equipment saves significant amounts of money and energy on your electric, gas, water, and sewer bills. Even replacing individual appliances can impact your bottom line. Consider these tips for buying ENERGY STAR® commercial kitchen products.

 1. Think Past Sticker Price

When you shop for ENERGY STAR® appliances for your restaurant, you will probably notice the price tag is higher than for less-efficient models. The ENERGY STAR® program encourages manufacturers to find less expensive ways to produce appliances and the cost of doing so is passed on to the buyer. However, these appliances can save you thousands of dollars in operating costs in the long run with lower utility bills. You will save for many years, even if you spend more at the store initially.

2. Buy Equipment for Efficient Cooking

The cooking methods and appliances used in your kitchen can have a big impact on the environment and your energy expenses. Try to buy ENERGY STAR® appliances that give you the option to use low-energy cooking techniques. Also, know which category of appliances carry the ENERGY STAR® label. Ovens and griddles which are ENERGY STAR® approved use less energy than rotisseries and broilers which are not. Look at your menu to see if you can make some recipe adaptations to use approved appliances before you shop.

3.  Learn Proper Operating Techniques

When you shop for ENERGY STAR® appliances, make sure to get advice for the most energy-efficient use. Learn to disconnect the appliance when it is not in use as well as what maintenance is need for optimum working order. Energy-efficient use includes:

• Keeping appliances off until an hour or so before you need them. Many restaurant kitchens turn all their equipment on first thing in the morning, even if they don’t use them until closer to lunchtime.
• Turn off appliances during the slow periods, such as the lull between lunch and dinner.
• Using timers and automatic shut-offs to control when appliances turn on and off.

Remember, properly maintained appliances will offer you the most energy efficiency.

4. Think Past the Kitchen

Opportunities for additional savings using ENERGY STAR® can be found in other areas of your restaurant.

• Televisions

Turn your TVs green, even the big screens, by selecting ENERGY STAR® certified televisions.

• Audio/Video (A/V) Products

Outfit your restaurant’s entertainment system with ENERGY STAR® certified A /V products, which include DVD and Blu-Ray disc players, receivers, amplifiers, and speakers.

• Lighting

Install ENERGY STAR® certified fixtures and light bulbs (CFLs or LEDs) in your dining area and reduce energy consumption and heat output by seventy-five percent. ENERGY STAR® certified lighting also lasts ten to fifty times longer than incandescent lighting.

• Office equipment

ENERGY STAR® certified desktop computers, printers, and monitors have power management features that can save your office and/or home office to up to $90 per year.

• Heating and Cooling

Save additional money in your restaurant, by looking for the ENERGY STAR® bathroom (ventilating) fans as well as heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) units. ENERGY STAR® ventilating fans use 70 percent less energy than standard models.

Restaurants use a great deal of energy; energy consumption that can be controlled and reduced by the use of ENERGY STAR® appliances. In the long run, you save a significant amount of money. And there is also real savings to the environment in less water and energy consumption, reduced waste, and fewer green house gas emissions.