There's a reason restaurant kitchens are so hot: A restaurant's kitchen uses five times more energy per square foot than the rest of the building combined. That's a lot of energy and a lot of money going to energy costs. Investing in energy-efficient equipment can save restaurants 30 percent, and every dollar saved on energy is a dollar of additional profit.

The saving isn't limited to energy costs; restaurants might also receive other financial incentives such as rebates from energy providers and tax incentives from Uncle Sam. There are many different energy-efficient foodservice equipment models on the market, but finding the right equipment for your needs can mean the difference between saving a little or a lot. Luckily, several resources are at your disposal.

Read the Label Back to top

Finding energy-efficient equipment is as easy as looking for the ENERGY STAR® label. The ENERGY STAR label appears on over 50 different product categories, including warewashers, refrigerators and freezers, hot-food holding cabinets, steamers, fryers and ice machines. By selecting ENERGY STAR qualified equipment, you can be sure you're getting a product that uses less energy than conventional models.

Hobart has a full line of ENERGY STAR qualified equipment, including warewashers, refrigerators and freezers, hot-food holding cabinets, steamers and fryers. In fact, Hobart's parent company, ITW Food Equipment Group North America, was recognized as ENERGY STAR's 2008 and 2009 Partner of the Year for its focus on producing ENERGY STAR qualified equipment and educating commercial foodservice operators about the importance of energy efficiency.

Additional Resources Back to top

The Food Service Technology Center is another resource at your disposal. The FSTC is the industry leader in commercial kitchen energy efficiency and appliance performance testing. The FSTC has developed over 30 standard test methods for evaluating commercial kitchen appliance performance.

The FSTC can help you compare foodservice equipment to find the best energy-efficient solution. The organization also offers educational seminars, presentations and articles to help you better understand how to lower energy costs through more efficient equipment.

Adding Up the Savings Back to top

You might be surprised by the amount you can save by using energy-efficient equipment. On average, ENERGY STAR qualified warewashers use 25 percent less energy and 25 percent less water than conventional warewashers. That translates into a significant saving for chain restaurants. ENERGY STAR qualified steamers also present cost-reduction opportunities; they can save restaurants more than $2,000 annually on energy costs. Energy-efficient exhaust hoods can save restaurants $2,500 annually.

ENERGY STAR's Guide for Restaurants compares energy usage and saving for ENERGY STAR qualified equipment compared to conventional equipment. Below are a few examples of the estimated annual cost savings. It's easy to see how the savings can add up.

Start with an Energy Audit Back to top

There are a lot of energy-saving options to consider. Hobart suggests beginning with an energy audit to learn more about your current energy use and to identify efficiency options and potential savings.

It's also important to remember that reducing energy in the kitchen might mean more than replacing foodservice equipment. Lighting and ventilation—while not used for cooking—can be energy hogs that require a second look.

Click here to learn more about Hobart's ENERGY STAR qualified equipment or to learn more about how you can lower energy costs at your restaurant.