Did you know that in a typical restaurant, the food preparation uses the most energy; over 30% of the monthly bill? The refrigeration cost takes up to only 18%, depending on the size and type of the restaurant of course. Add the water heater, HVAC systems and exhaust hoods to get a clear picture on how much money restaurant owners actually spend monthly for keeping all the kitchen appliances commercial running properly. Hence, why everyone prefers energy-efficient appliances.
If you are on the market for new kitchen appliances for commercial use, pay the most attention on the energy efficiency. Even if you are not purchasing new equipment for your restaurant, it is highly recommended to create an energy efficient equipment replacement plan in case your current equipment fails. By creating a plan, you will be able to save a significant amount of money when the time to purchase new appliances comes.
Here’s the list of the most important kitchen equipment that requires the most energy to operate properly.
Refrigeration Units
As mentioned above, refrigeration units make up over 30% of the total energy bills. Refrigerators are the most common kitchen appliances commercial and most manufacturing companies pay attention on not only on style and price range, but energy-efficiency as well. The same is true for ice machines which are commonly used and can make an impact on the monthly energy bill. The large refrigeration units known as walk-in coolers/freezers are also large energy consumers. The newest models can be up to 15% more energy efficient than older designs.
Cooking Equipment
This category includes ovens, rack ovens, convection ovens, fryers, var fryers, steam cookers, griddles, insulated holding cabinets and many others. The cooking equipment can definitely save a lot of money, but only if you invest in energy efficient models. In particular, steam cookers can provide huge money savings in terms of water and energy. This is a great start if you are switching from traditional kitchen equipment to modern energy efficient kitchen appliances commercial.
Water Heaters
Heating water is another big contributor to the monthly energy bill, up to 18% of the total amount. If you are using old water heaters, investment in new, energy efficient units to cut down operating costs. Although electric water heaters are more efficient than units that use natural gas, because the electricity is expensive, majority of restaurant owners prefer the natural gas models. The most economical option is a solar water heater. This unit is a perfect solution for both small and large consumers of hot water, as it uses the energy of the Sun to heat water. However, there is one drawback, because these appliances depend on the sun, solar water heaters can be used only in summer.
