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Energy saving for restaurants

For restaurants and caterers, saving on business energy can help you concentrate resources on the plate

Save your energy for kitchen and customer

Stainless steel refrigerators in a restaurant kitchen

Refrigeration in restaurants

  • Keep fridge doors closed whenever possible
  • Regularly defrost and clean fridges
  • Check that the seals on cold rooms and fridges are intact
  • Keep the condensers and evaporators on your fridges and cooling equipment clean
  • If fridges only store fizzy drinks, turn them off after hours
  • When buying new refrigerators, AA++ rated units have the lowest running costs

In some sectors, up to 90% of energy onsite is used for refrigeration

Water management in restaurants

  • Check your water temperature is at 60°C – this keeps water hot and kills bacteria
  • Insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss
  • Spray water taps use less water than conventional faucets
  • Fix leaking taps as quickly as possible

Restaurants and kitchens use significantly more hot water for cleaning than any other sector

A dishwasher cleaning plates by hand in a restaurant kitchen
An employee using a hand-held thermostat to adjust temperature in a restaurant

Restaurant heating, ventilation and air conditioning

  • Ensure that systems are regularly serviced to optimise performance
  • Consider turning down thermostats to a comfortable level
  • Switch off kitchen extraction hoods when not needed
  • Match your heating timer to the times when rooms are in use
  • Air conditioning is rarely needed below 24°C

Zoned heating will keep customers and staff comfortable while saving the business money

Restaurant lighting

  • Encourage staff to switch lights off when they’re not needed
  • Use movement detectors, time switches and daylight sensors
  • Replace traditional light bulbs with LED ones

Installing the right lights could cut your lighting costs by up to 80%

Restaurant lighting above wooden tables and chairs

More advice from the Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust helps organisations contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies and commercialising low carbon technologies.

Download their free guide to see how simple actions can save energy, cut costs and increase profit margins for hotels and the hospitality industry.

Carbon Trust – Hospitality sector energy saving guide 

Saving tips for British Gas business customers

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