Effective energy management is essential to cost-effective business in the restaurant industry. Developing a strategy to optimize energy use in a restaurant can be beneficial in a number of ways and ultimately save money for owners. Since this can be a technically challenging process, an energy management strategy is highly recommended, especially for larger restaurant chains that can produce more savings due to having a number of different locations. Energy management systems have been around for a couple decades, but recent technological advances have greatly improved what one can do. The main goals for such energy management programs in restaurants are to lower production costs and enhance profitability. It is wise to set goals for what you are trying to accomplish with such a strategy. These can include decreasing energy and utility budgeted usage or maintaining a database of energy and utility cost improvement opportunities among other things. Once a plan is set and goals are established, an energy management system can provide the type of energy and cost reduction that restaurant owners in New England will welcome.

Today’s dashboard touch panel-controlled “smart” energy management systems enable restaurant owners to easily view and reduce their resource consumption with the mere touch of a button, resulting in utility bill savings upwards of 20% or more per month. These systems come with low starting points and produce a rapid return of investment in just six to twelve months. Energy management systems can help automate the on/off function of HVAC or exterior lighting while making restaurant owners look at more energy efficient equipment and appliances to use in kitchens. For example, for establishments that serve French fries and use fryers, the low oil volume fryer (LOV) is an innovative appliance that allows restaurants to cook the same amount of product while using approximately 40% less oil. These fryers use 4% less energy than standard fryers and are a good example of how using energy efficient appliances can produce savings within an effective energy management system.

Another benefit of an energy management system is that they can help standardize uniform auditing and maintenance protocols. This is important as key appliances and equipment begin to age and taking care of them properly can maximize savings. An EMS system can control high energy utilizing appliances such as air conditioning, hood exhaust fans, and equipment power-ups automatically. Small alterations such as an alarm sounding off if the door to the walk-in has been left open for more than 10 minutes could be an example.

It often only takes one employee to abuse the privilege of air conditioning or accidentally leaving the lights on. An EMS alleviates any of these problems with the installation of timers, alarms and sensors. Employees can walk into work in the morning with the lights already on and the equipment powered up and ready to go. Training staff on the use of energy intense equipment and setting guidelines and protocol for energy usage are a couple of ways to improve energy efficiency at no cost. No matter big or small, restaurants everywhere should at least consider these energy efficient options.