The foodservice industry is a massive sector in the UK and it’s no surprise that it uses 20 billion kWh of energy every year, costing over £1.3 billion. The industry is working collectively to reduce its energy consumption significantly. A 20% decrease would save up to £250 million, and be the equivalent of a 5% rise in sales. As a business, there are a variety of ways you can reduce your energy consumption. Here is a handful to help you along:
1 Raising awareness
Your employees are the core component of saving energy so keep them informed and engaged about why and how to conserve energy which will have a significant impact on your overall consumption and will positively influence your profits. You can also keep your customers aware of your energy saving schemes by taking part in WWF Earth Hour that is held annually – https://www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour.
2 Little tweaks within your restaurant
Ten percent of a restaurant’s use of energy comes from lighting. Making the switch from using regular bulbs to energy-efficient LEDs will have a fantastic effect on your energy expenditure, reducing it by up to 75 percent. Move your refrigerators too, to the cooler part of your kitchen which will help them work more efficiently.
3 Invest in new equipment
Use commercial catering suppliers, (check out 247cateringsupplies), to help you purchase new energy-efficient equipment such as induction hobs. They heat up immediately, need far less fan time and your employees will enjoy a cooler kitchen.
4 Transform wasted heat into hot water
Investing approximately £8,000 – £10,000 in technology that can retain the heat expelled from your extractors, freezers and fridges, and employ it to heat your water, will result in a decrease in your energy use.
5 Monitor your expenditure with some help
Tracking the energy expenditure of your business with your financial team, general managers, and an expert, is crucial in order to plan and set realistic goals to reduce your consumption. Work with an energy consultant, who will liaise with gas and electric companies to secure you the best deal.
6 Green energy
There is an assumption that green energy costs decidedly more, but you can counteract any differences in cost by actively limiting the amount of energy you use, and hunting for the best deals.
