Temperature and Energy Management in Hospitality Settings

Hospitality businesses are notoriously difficult to keep open. Owners need to stay ahead of operational costs, including those related to maintaining temperatures and business energy management. 

This blog will offer insights into how to reduce business energy costs in hospitality settings, such as restaurants, cafes, bars or hotels, all while maintaining comfortable room temperatures for guests and staff alike.

The importance of proper temperatures in hospitality settings

Annual energy plans for restaurants and other businesses of the sort can be defined largely by the temperature requirements of the settings. This isn’t just about the comfort of guests and staff, there are also often regulatory and safety requirements that need to be adhered to. 

Comfort-based temperature requirements

Hotel rooms should be kept around 18-21°C, with the options for the guest to adjust the temperature within a certain range

• Restaurants, cafes, bars and dining areas should be kept at a comfortable range between 21-22°C
• Kitchens should be kept cooler, around 15-18°C, especially considering all the heat of cooking processes
• Care homes should be kept slightly warmer, around 20-24°C, important for keeping elderly or vulnerable residents comfortable and healthy

Food safety temperatures

Food safety regulations require more specific temperature controls, to guarantee everything is stored safely, keeping fines or penalties at bay. 

• Fridge temperatures need to be kept at 5°C or lower 
• Freezer temperature must be -18°C or lower
• Cooking temperatures should be 70°C or higher for most foods 
• Hot holding has to be 63°C or higher 
• Food should be cooled from 60°C to 20°C within 2 hours – then from 20°C to 5°C within another 4 hours. 

Temperatures are an essential thing to keep in mind in hospitality, with safety and comfort trumping efforts to lower the monthly energy bill for a restaurant or bar. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make differences with clever business energy management techniques. 

Temperature & energy management in hospitality

When it comes to managing your energy consumption levels in hospitality settings, temperature control can be a hard thing to overcome. There are few primary focuses that you need to consider, such as HVAC systems, envelope building and smart features. 

HVAC maintenance

HVAC systems will be in constant action, so make sure to maintain them and book in regular servicing to ensure that they’re efficient and not expending unnecessary energy. At the same time, aim for comfort, but at reasonable levels.

Envelope building

Improve wall, roof and floor insulation across the entire building, draught proofing spaces across the various rooms to minimise leaking and keep each area its proper temperature, further ensuring HVAC systems aren’t overworked. 

Smart energy management features

Using smart features can be a great way to sidestep oversight, which can be common with teams under the pressure of serving guests. Some installations can include: 

• Occupancy-scheduled thermostats and sensors to ensure the right spaces have the right temperatures, maximising efficiency
• Key card switches for hotel rooms that automatically turn off lights and HVAC systems when guests leave
• General zone controls for HVAC systems

Keep track of progress!

And remember, the key to any good energy management strategy is to measure your energy performance from start to finish, allowing you to base your next steps on data. 

For more insights into energy management and other related topics, visit our blog today.