5 Restaurant Energy Saving Tips.

restaurant savings

The temperatures during winter season can be really harsh especially for restaurateurs. Energy prices on the rise, electricity and cooking gas rates go up by 30%-50% percent making it even harder to make a dollar in the restaurant business.
This increase in energy prices really puts the restaurant owners between a rock and a hard place. Due to world economic strains, already with the costs of labor and food that have risen and now the increase of energy costs only adds salt to the injury.
On average, restaurants use more energy used by ordinary business premises on a square foot basis. Restaurants are among the businesses that will really feel the heat of high energy costs.
There are several strategies that restaurant operators can adopt to save on energy usage especially during winter. Let us sample the top 5 strategies that can be employed to save energy.

Work on the right temperatures.
Even though refrigeration is paramount in food preservation, it is also worthy to note that this systems can incur a lot of unnecessary expenses as far as energy consumption is concerned. First, make sure you are using the right and most appropriate temperature meters and monitoring equipment. With effective temperature gauges, you can regulate the temperatures of your systems depending on your desired needs. This temperature gauges are important also as they can warn you when the temperatures are beyond the safety zones or when the heating or cooling is done. This is aided by thermostats. For example, for every degree you lower on your thermostat for cooling, it supplements about 3% to your cooling and raising 1 degree supplements heating by around 3%. This method is recommended especially for HVAC systems.

Ensuring efficiency.
Before making any step of replacing your old equipment, make sure that the current equipment is running efficiently. There are some simple techniques you can apply to maximize efficiency. You can for example shield refrigeration displays when you close business to prevent energy loss. You can also put strip curtains on your doors to reduce air filtration by up to 75%.

Installation of remote HVAC systems controls.
Running HVAC systems at the wrong temperatures can really lead to energy waste. It is important to regulate the temperatures basing on your immediate needs. For HVAC systems, you can use internet based programmable softwares that are thermostat based to regulate the temperatures of the HVAC systems from your smartphone. Remote controlled thermostats are easier to program than ordinary models. They can also be centrally located to manage multiple HVAC systems in various locations.

Invest in efficient lighting systems.
If you are still on the standard bulbs, consider installing the new energy saving LEDs that can save you energy by up to 70%-80%. Even though the initial cost of purchasing LED bulbs is high, they save a lot of energy and you will surely notice their efficiency after a short time. You should also consider using these LEDs in your signs, refrigeration units and even in your parking lot.

Regular maintenance.
To maximize efficiency, it is also important to conduct regular maintenance practices on your equipment and appliances. Make sure you clean condenser coils at least quarterly in all your appliances especially HVAC and refrigeration systems. This is important as ice build-ups may make these systems use a lot of energy which is very unnecessary. Refrigeration door seals should also be checked regularly as they may leak energy. Also, consider replacing air filters especially before or after peak cooling and heating periods.

It is without any doubt that with low temperatures, energy use will automatically go up. This directly translates to high costs. For restaurants, this can really be a hard time and thus there is need for cutting these costs for the business’ sustainability. Try these energy saving tips and you will surely notice the difference!