Boosting Restaurant Profits With Energy Efficiency

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation: Heating and Cooling Systems

When it comes to annual energy use in California restaurants, heating and cooling systems account for a big piece of the pie. In fact, for most restaurants, heating and cooling is second only to food preparation in terms of annual energy consumption.

Rely more on fans, less on air conditioning. Air conditioners and central cooling systems require a tremendous amount of energy; most fans, on the other hand, do not. Research indicates that energy use falls by 4 to 5 percent for every degree that you raise your cooling thermostat. Easing back on central cooling by only 3 degrees Fahrenheit could trim air conditioning costs by 12 - 15 percent. One way to improve customer comfort is to compensate for the difference in air temperature by using an efficient ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fan.

Inspect, clean and maintain equipment. Dirty heat-transfer coils (the winding metal coils on the back of an air conditioner) and torn or misaligned ducts can both drag down the efficiency of your climate control equipment. Clean and mend where you can.

Replace dirty air filters. Don't let your air filter get too dirty-a grimy filter will impede airflow, forcing your heating and cooling motors to work harder. As a general rule, check and change filters at least once every three months.

Install a programmable thermostat. Still setting your thermostat by hand? Consider adding some precision to the process by adding a programmable thermostat and using its "night setback" mode. With automatic setback, never again will you have to remember to turn off the heat or air conditioning at the end of the workday. According to ENERGY STAR estimates, proper use of a programmable thermostat could save you up to $100 annually on heating and cooling costs.

Find out if an energy management system (EMS) is right for you. If your restaurant has a centralized heating and cooling system, an EMS may be able to cut your energy costs dramatically. Finding out if an EMS is right for you might take some footwork-you'll need the help of an energy expert on this one. But the extra effort may be worth it since an EMS can also control other systems like lighting and kitchen exhaust fans.