Insulation
Holding cabinets
When it comes to saving energy with hot food holding cabinets, the answer is in the insulation. Well-insulated holding cabinets have been shown to be up to 65 percent more efficient than non-insulated models. Expect to save between $350 and $450 annually simply by choosing a good insulated cabinet.
Shut it off! The U.S. Department of Energy reports that holding cabinets are frequently left on overnight. Don’t waste energy by heating empty space—implement a shutdown schedule and make sure your cabinets are part of it. A non-insulated holding cabinet left idling for eight hours every night could wind up costing you around $500 per year!
Buy an ENERGY STAR qualified cabinet. As of January 2006, California law requires that any new holding cabinet you purchase be at least an insulated ENERGY STAR qualified cabinet or equivalent. Still, some insulated cabinets are more efficient than others. Utility rebates are available for the most efficient models.
The Biggest Energy Users
If you’re looking for a shortcut to the biggest savings, consider focusing your attention on what are likely some of your kitchen’s biggest energy users: broilers, hot-top ranges, boiler-based steamers, pasta cookers, conveyor ovens and combination ovens.
Don’t wait: Go ENERGY STAR
With ENERGY STAR steamers, good things come to those who don’t wait. That’s because the savings are usually huge. In most cases it makes financial sense to make the switch to an ENERGY STAR steamer right away, rather than waiting until your old boiler-based steamer is ready to call it quits. PG&E’s Food Service Technology Center has found that an ENERGY STAR qualified steamer, under heavy operating conditions, could save thousands of dollars in annual energy and water costs.
Putting Energy Use in Perspective
Sometimes it’s difficult to appreciate just how energy-intensive kitchen equipment can be. Here’s some info to help put things in perspective—and to underscore the importance of saving energy in your kitchen:
11,000 kWh is enough energy to . . .
. . . power a typical electric open deep fat fryer for about a year.
. . . power the average California home for nearly two years!
Case in point: Porto’s Bakery, Glendale
Porto’s Bakery is a great example of how energy-efficient natural gas appliances can help keep energy bills to a minimum. Working with the Southern California Gas Company as part of a major expansion project, the bakery was outfitted with energy-efficient griddles, ovens, fryers, and other pieces of cooking equipment. The investment in energy efficiency paid off: “Even though our sales went up by 40 percent, our gas costs stayed the same,” reports Raul Porto, the bakery’s owner.
Case in point: Montebello Unified School District
With an assortment of energy-efficient steam kettles, braising pans and other equipment, cafeterias throughout the Montebello Unified School District (MUSD) are saving natural gas and cooking smart. Southern California Gas Company helped make the upgrades happen, providing more than $12,000 in rebates for new gas equipment, which is saving the district as much as $18,000 a year in energy costs. “With the money saved through energy efficiency, the school district budget can be spent in direct support of our students,” said Derrick Williams, MUSD’s energy manager.
Efficient Cooking Appliances: Taking the next step
Make an ENERGY STAR list. EPA’s ENERGY STAR program takes the guesswork out of buying efficient equipment. Whether you’re in the market for new or used equipment, start your hunt by making a list of the ENERGY STAR qualified models that fit your needs. Focus on these as you
start narrowing down your options.
See what utility rebates are available. Some energy-efficient cooking equipment qualifies for rebates from utility providers. To find out more, call your utility provider directly, log on to Flex Your Power’s program finder at www.fypower.org/programs or visit the Food Service Technology Center’s rebate page at www.fishnick.com/rebates.
Ask questions and check online for reviews. If no ENERGY STAR qualified models exist for the type of equipment you’re looking for, don’t worry—you’ve still got options. Ask distributors and manufacturers for energy use info, and check online for equipment reviews that mention energy efficiency. The website of PG&E’s Food Service Technology Center is a great place to start. Find it at www.fishnick.com.
|