subject: How To Make Your Restaurant More Energy Efficient: From Awnings To Digital Thermostats To Everything [print this page] Running a restaurant is not an easy businessRunning a restaurant is not an easy business. In fact, it is a capital-intensive venture where you will need to invest considerable amounts in setting it up. It also requires continual upkeep. Energy costs are one of the major factors in escalating restaurant management budget. Read on to know ways in which you can lower your energy bills through both high-tech and low-tech means.
Restaurant managers will say that ensuring optimal food quality is but one among their many and seemingly unending concerns that crop up while running a restaurant. And many of those restaurateurs will also say that as restaurant owners they just keep putting their money and resources in with a weak return on investment. Thats why careful budgeting is key, minimizing expenses wherever and whenever they can. The reality is that without attention to energy details, most successful restaurants only manage to generate 3%-9% profit. Especially in this economy, where even existing patrons are ordering less expensive dishes and less often, energy efficiency is essential if those profit margins are to be maintained and ideally exceeded. One such area where little saving techniques can lower expenses considerably is electrical consumption. If done properly profits can reach 30% total revenue, according to the Small Business Administration.
The idea is to make consolidated efforts towards minimizing energy expenses. There is energy used in restaurants to heat, cool, and cook. The energy usage is constant and increases during rush hour and changes throughout the year as temperatures rise and fall, sun angles change, length of day fluctuates and the number of patrons add or subtract heat to a given environment thanks to simple body heat radiation. That is why if you can adjust your restaurant for energy efficiency, you can set yourself to enjoy considerable long-term benefits. Here are some tips for the same:
Generally there are two ways to go: high tech and low tech and both should be used in a healthy balance and mix. The goal is not to shortchange product installation, looking for the cheapest items, but rather long-term energy planning. It may seem simple enough, but restaurant awnings on main entranceways and on sun-facing windows can go a long way to reduce energy costs, sometimes on the order of 30% reductions, depending on your restaurants location. Think of them like manmade trees. Just like a beautiful Maple or Oak whose leaves provide summer shade and fall and spring warmth, acting as an insulating blanket, so too, can awnings achieve similar results. And best of all, unlike the natural alternative, awnings dont lose their leaves come winter and continue providing protection! Fixed or retractable and made from metal, canvas, mesh, fabric, and combinations thereof, awnings are an ideal way to begin the energy efficiency process and can reduce cooling costs by as much as 25%.
For instance, its savings like these that inspired the Arbor Brewing Company, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to include awnings (and new windows) as part of its $345,000 energy efficient upgrade, which began last September and concluded this August. While their upgrades included a solar generator, in all the brewery expects to reduce their energy bills by half.
But awnings have additional benefits too and some of them you wouldnt necessarily expect. Awnings also keep your restaurants outdoor staff, from parking attendants to valet drivers, more comfortable. By being better protected from rain and wind, for instance, employees will not come back in to your restaurant wet or cold conditions which go a long way toward cooling a persons core body temperature, and requiring more heat to offset that stubborn chill.
Beyond awnings, though, there are additional energy options to consider. Here are a few tips:
Use energy efficient restaurant equipment: There must be freezers, refrigerators, steamers or ovens in your kitchen. Ensure that they are not from the 1980s or so and run on a lot of energy. Update your cooking and storing equipment so that they operate efficiently. Use energy saving star rated equipment and you will see how the costs come down within the next billing cycle. Always compare energy usage before buying any new equipment and see their energy saving star rating.
Make sure your water heater is working efficiently: This is a special mention here because restaurants spend a lot in heating water. So you must insulate pipes and take care of any hot water leaks as soon as possible. Instruct your staff to run the dishwasher only when the racks are full. These few steps will lower your water heating cost considerably.
Train your staff to cook in the energy saving mode: You can save a lot if you can train and encourage your back end staff to use energy efficiently to maximize savings. Tell the cooking staff how they can cook just as well if they cook on lower temperatures on ovens and cooking ranges. Reducing the heat will increase food preparation time, but it will save a lot of energy as well.
Ensure everyone follows the shut-down schedule: You must create a list of electrical equipment to be checked and switched off when the restaurant closes for the night. Did you know many restaurants leave warming cabinets on and running all through the night? Your staff could be doing that too. So ensure that they shut down everything not needed.
Install digital thermostats: For your front end, or the dining area make sure you install energy efficient heating or cooling equipment. One great way to save energy is to install a digital thermostat which will follow a set program and automatically cut off the heating or cooling when there are no customers (non-business hours).
Combined with awnings to lower heating or cooling costs, energy efficiency can and should be an easy goal to achieve. So as the temperatures fall, keep your restaurants profits up. Awnings are a great way of letting the sun in during winters or keeping it out during the summers. These can help in energy gain as well as stop energy drain quite effectively. Approach any of the reputable awning companies in your area and get the best-suited awnings installed.
