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EcoTech’s Energy Star qualified steamer cooks food to perfection
EcoTech’s Energy Star qualified steamer cooks food to perfection

ENERGY SAVINGS, WATER SAVINGS, KITCHEN COMFORT AND SAFETY

Energy efficient commercial cooking appliances are essential to reducing energy consumption in California.  In fact, a single commercial kitchen appliance can consume more energy per day than a typical home, according to the Food Service Technology Center. Energy efficient cooking appliances can save as much as 50% over standard models; with over 1 million commercial kitchen appliances operating in California, this represents a significant savings opportunity.

Appliances that save both water and energy offer the most significant benefit because water savings lead directly to energy savings by reducing the amount of water heating required. For a typical restaurant, the combined water and energy savings could add up to several thousand dollars per year. For example, Energy Star qualified steam cookers can save $1,075 a year in electricity costs, and up to $500 a year in water costs.  These cookers are 50% more energy efficient than conventional models, and can cut water consumption by 90%.  Instead of using a boiler to operate the steam cooker, which consumes an average of 30 gallons of water per hour, efficient boilerless steam cookers use only 2 gallons of water per hour.

Energy efficient cooking appliances also deliver non-energy benefits such as faster food production, a cooler & more comfortable kitchen environment, a safer kitchen due to lower temperature surfaces, and consistent, high quality food. These non-energy benefits follow directly from the efficiency gains: there is less waste heat in the kitchen due to more efficient conversion of heat and electricity into useful food preparation, which in turn creates a more comfortable environment. And efficient features such as better insulation also lead to lower equipment surface temperatures, creating a safer environment for workers. Purchasing energy efficient commercial cooking appliances is an easy way to save energy, save money, and produce better, safer results in the kitchen.

 

 

Photo credit: Market Forge

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Insulated holding cabinets like this one are 48% more energy efficient
Insulated holding cabinets like this one are 48% more energy efficient
Large Scale Retrofits Case Study

CONVENTION CENTER’S LARGE-SCALE ENERGY STAR RETROFIT

At one million square-feet, the Oregon Convention Center is the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest.  When the LEED-certified convention center needed to expand its kitchen, operators looked for ways to increase kitchen capacity while maintaining the facility’s high efficiency standards.  Assisted by their local food service supplier, the convention center replaced 28 hot-food holding cabinets with 30 new Energy Star qualified units.  These new cabinets save the convention center over 200,000 kWh each year, which translates into over $12,000 in utility bill savings annually.

The Oregon Convention Center food service operators are also pleased with the non-energy features of their new equipment. With these new hot-food holding cabinets, the convention center has experienced improved food quality and better temperature control, as well as safer kitchen operations due to improved insulation.  The Energy Star qualified cabinets are also more comfortable and convenient, with ergonomic handles and hands-free access.

 

Photo Credit: Cambro

With glass door refrigerators, contents are viewable without opening the doors
With glass door refrigerators, contents are viewable without opening the doors
School Cafeterias Case Study

ENERGY SAVINGS IN AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEAN HEALTHIER FOOD ON THE MENU

The eight schools in Austin Public School District in Minnesota feed 4,300 children every day.  The district’s high-volume production requirements make reliability and quality essential for the schools’ cafeteria equipment. Aided by a local food service equipment distributor, the district thoroughly researched energy efficient equipment that would satisfy their needs.

Taking advantage of incentives provided their utility, Austin Public Schools ultimately installed new Energy Star qualified and high-efficiency commercial cooking appliances at four of their school sites including:

•    3 Energy Star qualified reach-in refrigerators
•    3 Energy Star qualified reach-in freezers
•    2 Energy Star qualified electric steamers
•    3 Energy Star qualified hot food holding cabinets
•    4 gas convection ovens

This equipment provides the Austin Public School District with annual savings of $3,500. Additionally, these energy efficient appliances are expected to save the district 32,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 400 therms of natural gas, and 340,000 gallons of water each year.

The new appliances have also resulted in healthier food options. By purchasing new steamers, the district’s high school was able to retire its deep fryer.  Additionally, with the utility bill savings from the new efficient appliances, the school is able to purchase fruits and vegetables that were previously out of its price range.  By installing energy efficient cooking appliances, Austin Public Schools provides higher quality foods to students while also cutting costs and saving energy.

 

Photo credit: UTILITY refrigerator

This Dean Decathlon HD50 efficient fryer receives a $500 rebate.
This Dean Decathlon HD50 efficient fryer receives a $500 rebate.
Fast Food Restaurants Case Study

FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS LEVERAGE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS UTILITY REBATES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT

As fast food restaurants, Rubio’s, El Pollo Loco, and Carl’s Jr. operate on slim profit margins. With their low-cost menu items, the financial success of these companies depends to a large extent on their ability to reduce operating costs and stretch each dollar of their capital expenditures.

In 2005-2007 each of these companies participated in a Southern California Gas (SCG) gas equipment rebate program, installing energy efficient commercial cooking appliances in kitchens throughout their chains.  The equipment installed includes high-efficiency griddles, fryers, steamers and ovens.

Through SCG’s rebate program, restaurant chains are allowed an annual total of $25,000 in rebates. The program includes free use of SCG’s Food Service Equipment Center, where restaurants can try out their recipes on energy efficient equipment before making their purchases. Rubio’s has received over $3,500 in rebates on their new efficient equipment, El Pollo Loco has received over $11,000 for efficient ovens and fryers, and Carl’s Jr. has received over $45,000 in rebates over three years. Rubio’s Purchasing Manager, Cynthia Campoy, states, “It doesn’t make good business sense to pass [up these rebates].”

 

Photo Credit: Dean