How to Reduce Energy in Commercial Kitchens
Commercial Kitchens are the backbone of many businesses, and they require a lot of energy to run. Industrial appliances like refrigerators can consume up to 200 kilowatts per hour, and most commercial kitchens average about 420 kilowatts per hour. So if you run a commercial kitchen, you may have asked yourself how you can reduce energy in commercial kitchens before. If you would like to read more information or learn more about the pricing of business energy, you can do so here.
The good news is that through proactive efforts like changing your dishwasher’s location or installing LED lights, you can considerably reduce the amount of energy consumed by a commercial kitchen. Efficiency gains can be had through changes to the processes, equipment or operations of a kitchen, and efficiency gains can lead to significant savings in such a power-hungry environment.
To calculate how much energy is used in your commercial kitchen, take the total wattage used by all of the wall-mounted appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave ovens etc.) and then multiply that number by 60% (or multiply by 70% if you have two or more of these appliances). This will give you an idea of how much energy your commercial kitchen uses. Professional auditors will be able to determine this figure more accurately.
Here are some ways to start reducing the energy used in your commercial kitchen:
Use LED lighting instead of 100-watt incandescent bulbs: LED lamps are more efficient than incandescent lamps because they use less power for each light output unit. You can also hook up several 100-watt lamps to one LED lamp, which will reduce the amount of electricity consumed while still providing the same amount of light.
Rely on natural sunlight rather than artificial lighting: If you can allow sunlight to pass through your commercial kitchen instead of relying on artificial lighting, your energy savings will be considerable.
Clean dust away from appliances regularly: Dust buildup around the back of your refrigerator or other appliances can reduce the effectiveness of their cooling systems.
Close your HVAC vents when not in use: If you’re not using your kitchen, ensure that your commercial HVAC unit’s vents are closed, as this will reduce energy usage substantially.
Reduce idle times by planning meals ahead of time: Commercial kitchens don’t have to run 24 hours a day, so try to organise meal plans so that you aren’t cooking at odd hours.
Install a solar-powered commercial appliance: To save energy, use a commercial appliance with a solar power source.
Water Management: Commercial kitchens use a lot of water, so take steps to reduce the amount of water you use every day. Sponges and water buckets should be replaced regularly, and you can hook up an automatic shutoff device to your faucet so that it turns off when the bucket is full. If possible, hook up your filtration system to your faucet or have one installed for you.
Make sure your commercial kitchen appliances are running efficiently: Check on your commercial appliances regularly so that you can tell what needs replacing or servicing.
Change old electric stovetops for gas or induction-based models: These burn cleaner than electric stovetops and use less power.
Install motion-sensitive lights in common areas of your commercial kitchen: Light sensors will detect motion and turn off lights when no one is there to use them.
Replace current refrigeration systems with more efficient ones: Refrigerators and freezers account for a large portion of your commercial kitchen’s energy usage, so upgrades to these appliances will have a considerable impact on your energy bill.
By taking the above tips into account, you can considerably reduce the energy used in your commercial kitchen. Several businesses provide energy audits for commercial kitchens, and these auditors will be able to identify ways to reduce your energy bill. A business manager can reduce energy usage without a professional auditor by following the steps above and observing energy use patterns. It may be advisable to put new systems into place to increase power efficiency – for example, training staff to switch off appliances when they are not being used frequently.
Commercial kitchen equipment is one of the most important decisions you will make as a business owner. It’s necessary to find equipment that suits your budget and also meets all of your operational requirements.
You should also consider the type of food you plan on cooking and any additional appliances, such as refrigerators or dishwashers, that may be needed to meet your needs. Price should not be the only important consideration when purchasing commercial cooking and baking ovens: it’s necessary to consider energy efficiency, durability and whether or not it’s easy to maintain. There is often a tradeoff between cost and power efficiency. It can often be wise to choose more expensive equipment to make savings in the medium term.
Generally, commercial kitchens are hot places, which require constant cooling. This can be done through a method by which cool air is pumped into the kitchen, and heated air is pumped out to the area where it is heated. This may result in less energy than other methods by which hot air is pumped out of the kitchen and replaced with cold air.
However, it requires constant monitoring to ensure that the hot air is not entering unheated areas and causing damage. When looking to improve the insulation of a kitchen, it must be taken into consideration that it may not be efficient to insulate the room if heat can escape into other areas that need healing. This will, in some cases, lead to a reduction in heating requirements for the building as a whole.
There are many factors to be considered when trying to reduce energy consumption in a commercial kitchen. Given that kitchens are so power-hungry, significant energy savings can be had from minor changes to the operations or equipment. This makes it an attractive place to start for a business looking to become more energy efficient. To make a substantial impact on energy consumption in commercial kitchens, one must consider several factors, such as the location of the kitchen, the amount of activity in the kitchen, and which appliances are being used.
Are you ready to rent your own commercial kitchen? Check out the latest properties here!
Other useful links about business energy
Corona Energy
Contract Natural Gas (CNG)
British Gas and the Alternatives
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