Boosting Restaurant Profits With Energy Efficiency
Appliances and Food Preparation: Steamers
Thanks to good heat transfer, steamers can rank among the more energy-efficient kitchen appliances. But just because steamers are sometimes more efficient than other kitchen appliances doesn't mean they can't use a lot of energy. Here's one reason why: until recently, most steamers were boiler-based water hogs, consuming an average of 40 gallons of water per hour. Bringing so much water to a boil requires a lot of energy-thousands of dollars worth per year for larger restaurants. Fortunately, steamer technology has come a long way in recent years. New "connectionless" steamers operate as a closed system-without a boiler and a drain-so they consume far less water and, ultimately, far less energy. Many of the connectionless steamers are designed with output in mind and they can produce just as much food as traditional boiler-based steamers but at a much lower cost to operate.
Close the door! Your profits are literally evaporating away if you're operating your steamer with its door open.
Use only as many compartments as you need. With steamers, two-or three or four-compartments are not better than one when it comes to saving energy and money. Shut down unnecessary compartments during slow periods.
Cut standby time. Eliminating an hour of standby time daily on a boiler-based steamer can save from $50 to $300 over the course of a year.
Use the timer. If you're not using your steamer's timer, you're probably paying the price for it. Timers save energy by ensuring that the steamer runs at full heat only when needed.
Keep it clean. Flushing out the boilers and removing mineral deposits will help ensure that you're always operating at maximum efficiency.
Fix leaks. When gaskets loosen or tear, don't waste time before replacing them. Steam leaks reduce cooking efficiency and drive up utility bills.
Invest in connectionless technology. Connectionless steamers require less maintenance than boiler-based steamers and consume far less energy and water. Field testing by PG&E's Food Service Technology Center (FSTC) has shown just how great the savings can be: In one head-to-head challenge between a three-pan connectionless steamer and a traditional, boiler-based steamer, the connectionless steamer slashed annual water bills by $2,000 and annual electricity bills by $3,000. Get in on the savings-look for an ENERGY STAR qualified connectionless steamer.
Don’t wait: Go connectionless
With ENERGY STAR qualified steamers, good things come to those who don't wait. That's because the savings are substantial. In most cases it makes financial sense to make the switch to an ENERGY STAR qualified connectionless steamer right away, rather than waiting until your old boiler-based steamer is ready to call it quits.