Energy saving tips, best practices and news
The California Restaurant Association supports energy efficiency as a vital business strategy for the food and hospitality industry.
According to the California Restaurant Association, the average restaurant’s profits are typically only three to five percent of total revenue. Every dollar saved through energy efficiency is a dollar profit — and even modest improvements to efficiency can lead to major leaps in overall profits.
This energy page provides tips, best practices and late-breaking news on saving energy.
Cook up some savings
No-cost ways to save energy and money
- Work with your utility company. Find out what energy-saving programs your utility company offers. Most companies offer programs and services that can save your business money immediately.
- Cut idle time. Do you need all of your appliances on all the time? Use only the equipment you need, when you need it. Cutting one hour of broiler idle time every day, for example, could save $450 annually.
- Cook wisely. Ovens tend to be more efficient than rotisseries; griddles tend to be more efficient than broilers. Examine your cooking methods and menu and find ways to rely on your more efficient appliances.
- Check pilot lights. Check pilot flames occasionally to make sure you’re using only as much gas as you need. A tall yellow flame indicates an over-fired pilot light. Adjust flames so they are bullet shaped and mostly blue.
Low-cost ways to save energy and money
- Recalibrate appliances to stay efficient. It’s likely over time the performance of your kitchen appliances will degrade. Thermostats and control systems can fail or fall out of calibration. Repair or replace broken control panels on ovens, steamers and other appliances that feature control systems.
- Switch to low-flow pre-rinse spray valves. Depending on the size and workload of your restaurant, a low-flow spray valve could save you more than $1,000 annually. Low-flow valves are engineered to work as well as or better than standard valves. Check with your water or energy providers—many local utilities and water districts offer programs to help you make the switch from standard to low-flow valves.
- Shift from incandescent lighting to more efficient options. Many utilities offer rebates for energy efficient lighting equipment, including dependable, long-lasting fluorescent and light-emitting diode (LED) systems.
Good investment tip
- Buy ENERGY STAR. In the case of new appliances it pays to look beyond the sticker price. Make an energy-smart purchase by thinking in terms of life-cycle costs, which include purchase price, annual energy costs and other long-term costs. For example, in the case of an ENERGY STAR qualified connectionless steamer, the water and energy savings over a conventional boiler-based steamer could add up to several thousand dollars in just one year!
Find California rebates and services to help you save money, energy and water
Cash in on the more than $2 billion in energy efficiency programs available in California. Simply enter your ZIP code in Flex Your Power’s Rebates, Incentives and Services Locator (at right) to find programs in your area.
Helpful guides and tools
- Best Practice Guide - (Boosting Restaurant Profits with Energy Efficiency) (PDF)
Flex Your Power’s best practices guide for restaurant owners and managers features dozens of tips and strategies for conserving energy and saving money. - Product Guides
Flex Your Power’s product guides lay out everything you need to know to make energy-smart equipment purchases.
Energy-related links
- Flex Your Power - California incentives/rebates, technical assistance, retailers, product guides and case studies.
- Food Service Technology Center - commercial kitchen energy efficiency and appliance performance testing.
- ENERGY STAR - federal program to promote energy efficient technologies and practices.