Restaurants require a lot of energy in order to make meals, serve customers, and simply stay open. From heating food, to lighting the restaurant, electricity and gas are both massive costs for restaurant businesses. In fact, electricity and gas make up a large majority of the outgoings of a restaurant. While the rest of the world looks at ways to go green and switch to renewable energy, you may be wondering how, as such a large consumer of energy, you can improve the energy efficiency of your restaurant business. With our years of experience supplying energy to business energy customers, we have compiled some of our tips. Which have been tailored specifically for restaurants and food service business owners.   Invest in energy saving commercial appliances  Ovens, hobs, grills, fryers and all other electrical cooking appliances in your commercial kitchen are bound to use large amounts of energy. By investing in energy saving appliances you can reduce your energy consumption, cut your business energy bills, all while improving the efficiency of your restaurant.  When shopping for new commercial kitchen appliances you should pay close attention to their efficiency rating or energy label. A rating of between A-G is given to each appliance and gadget and helps you to identify the most energy efficient products on the market. More information about the ranking of appliances can be found here. However, it is important to note that this labeling system is often updated and revised, so keeping up to date with changes is important.   Switch to LEDs for lighting  If your restaurant requires modernisation or you work out of an older building, it would certainly be worth considering switching your current lighting to LEDs. LED bulbs provide  a brighter atmosphere and use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs. This makes for a simple and very effective change that will allow you to save energy, money and reduce the carbon footprint of your restaurant.   Monitor your energy usage  Paying close attention to your energy usage will also help in ensuring that your restaurant is energy efficient. Being able to oversee how much energy you are consuming each day or even each hour will allow you to make even the smallest of changes, like cutting down on the use of certain appliances or switching off energy demanding electrical goods that are not needed.  One of the best ways you can do this is by using a smart meter for businesses. At D-ENERGi we are supporting the roll-out of smart meters across the UK for businesses, and can assist you in the installation and set up of a new smart meter. If you are a D-ENERGi business customer and would like more information about a business smart meter for your restaurant, do not hesitate to contact us.

The work towards a clean energy future has well and truly begun. With the efforts of individuals, businesses, organisations, and governments combined, we can work to achieve a cleaner, greener future. Taking small steps now will help to make a real difference to your business in the long term. Not only helping you save money but the planet too! This list of energy efficient products for businesses make for the perfect investment for your business as you work to improve your stance on sustainability and your carbon footprint.   Energy saving appliances  To cut carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption, business owners should consider updating, renovating, and investing in energy saving appliances.  With manufacturers utilising new technologies, there are now a wide range of eco-friendly appliances and electrical devices to replace old and slow business assets. This includes air conditioners and heating units, printers, monitors, computers, and LED lighting.  Here are some ways you can modernise and replace old appliances with new to improve the energy efficiency of your business:    Switch to LED lightbulbs: LEDs are much more energy efficient than older incandescent bulbs, so replacing your lighting with LED bulbs can drastically reduce your energy consumption. Additionally, the longer lifespan of LED bulbs means that you won’t have to replace them as often.  Install a programmable thermostat: Thermostats are a great  way to manage your business’s energy consumption. A programmable thermostat can be set to adjust the temperature based on the time of day, so you won’t have to worry about leaving the air conditioning or heat running when it’s not necessary. Plus, you will have greater control over the average temperature of the office, making sure this is set to a consistent but workable temperature. When shopping for new appliances, look for models that are Energy Star rated for the highest possible energy efficiency. By replacing old equipment with newer high-efficiency models, you can save a significant amount of money on your monthly bills and reduce your business’s environmental impact at the same time.    Environmental taxes, reliefs and schemes for businesses For businesses who want to invest in energy saving appliances and energy efficient technology, the government offers tax reliefs and schemes to support you financially. Allowing even the smallest of businesses to make a change towards a green future.  Currently, the UK government offers capital allowances when you buy energy efficient and low-carbon technology for your business. This means the amount of tax you pay on these goods will be reduced. You can find out more about these and the eligibility criteria here. For further support with your business energy bills and current usage, do not hesitate to get in touch with our team. We can discuss your current contract, offer solutions for reducing usage, and supply you with a business smart meter for closer monitoring of your energy usage and accurate billing.

Energy drift explained:  Energy drift is a phenomenon that occurs when the amount of energy consumed by a business or other organisation exceeds the amount of energy allocated for its usage. It can happen due to faulty equipment, inefficient use of resources, and incorrect pricing or billing practices. Energy drift has the potential to significantly increase operating costs and reduce profits. It can also have serious environmental ramifications, as excess  energy use contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.   How energy drift occurs Energy drift will occur when there are energy inefficiencies within your building. This could be due to general building design flaws, including errors within the construction process or smaller inefficiencies like faulty and malfunctioning electrical equipment.    Over time the more energy drift occurs, the greater impact this will have on the energy efficiency of your building. It has been estimated that within several years, energy drift can decrease the efficiency of your building’s systems by 10 to 30 percent. Since not all businesses have the funds or privilege to perfectly monitor and assess energy efficiency performance, it can often be difficult to manage the occurrence of energy drift. However, this does not mean there are no solutions to address energy drift and combat its effects on your business.   Solutions for energy drift  To prevent and address energy drift, it is important to conduct regular energy audits of your energy usage to identify areas of weakness or inefficiency. This can involve analysing energy bills for discrepancies, running diagnostic tests on equipment, and performing periodic maintenance on air conditioning and heating systems. Energy audits can be carried out in several ways, either by a member of your own team or by a third party auditor. More details on energy audits can be found here.  By using the energy audit you can identify the areas that are causing your building to experience energy drift and an increase in energy consumption. This could include the insulation of your building or your electrical systems requiring maintenance to improve the energy efficiency.  There are several management techniques that will also help you to reduce energy drift in your building. This includes the use of an energy management system, better control over your HVAC, and weatherstripping.   Keep a closer eye on your energy consumption with a smart meter for business  In order to pay closer attention to the energy you are using in real-time, the installation of a business smart meter is an effective solution. Providing a clear display of your usage and how much this will be costing you. Plus, the information the smart meter records is sent directly to your energy provider, ensuring your bills and charges are accurate.  For more information about business smart meters, visit our page here, or get in touch with our team to arrange an installation.

The escalating costs of energy pose a significant financial burden for small businesses. As prices continue to surge in recent years, finding effective means to curtail these expenses becomes crucial for their sustainability and success. Surprisingly, many business owners and employees remain oblivious to the extent of their energy consumption and the subsequent wastage. To mitigate both consumption and expenses, it is imperative to address energy waste. This article highlights five major energy-wasting culprits commonly found in businesses and proposes actionable steps to diminish energy wastage within businesses.    1. Old and malfunctioning electrical appliances  Old electrical appliances like computers and printers will consume much more energy than newer, energy efficient models. Electronics that may be malfunctioning or running much slower than they should be will demand more energy in order to be used. This huge consumption of energy will become incredibly wasteful for businesses. Particularly if these appliances are no longer operational but are still being turned on. In order to avoid wasting energy, investing in energy efficient electrical appliances will save you costs in the long-term. Consuming far less energy and helping to keep your costs down.     2. Overused HVAC units  The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is often the largest consumer of energy in a business. During the summer months, when HVAC systems are left on for too long or turned up too high, this can result in an excessive amount of energy waste. Similarly, during winter months when businesses leave their HVACs running unnecessarily will  also result in energy waste. In order to avoid this, businesses should look to install an energy-efficient HVAC system and set up a schedule for when the units need to be turned on. This will not only promote better air quality but will help save money as well.     3. Inadequate insulation  Inadequate insulation and airtightness are one of the leading causes for energy wastage in businesses. Poorly insulated walls, windows and roofs can allow heat to escape from buildings. This will result in higher energy costs as your heating bills will be skyrocketing due to the temperature variations created by these gaps in insulation. Similarly, inadequate air tightness can cause your HVAC system to work harder, leading to even more energy wastage. In order to save yourself from excessive energy costs, it is important to make sure that your building has adequate insulation and airtightness. This may involve updating your current insulation or investing in new airtight windows and doors.    4. Inefficient lighting  The use of inefficient lighting fixtures or bulbs can result in a significant amount of energy waste for businesses. Not  only are these lighting fixtures more expensive to operate but also consume much more electricity than their newer, energy efficient counterparts. It’s important to replace your old lighting fixtures with newer ones that are both cost and energy efficient. Additionally, businesses should opt for using natural lighting wherever possible as this will reduce the need for artificial lighting. If your workplace is exposed to natural light throughout the day, there should be no need to turn on artificial lighting and teams should be encouraged to turn off the lights    5. Leaving electronics turned on when not in use  Leaving electronics tuned on when they are not being used is one of the most common causes of energy waste in businesses. An easy way to reduce this wastage is by ensuring that all electronic devices like computers, printers and TVs are switched off at the end of the day or whenever they are left unused for extended periods of time. Additionally, turning off lights and other  devices when they are not required can also help to reduce energy wastage.   By making a few simple changes, businesses can dramatically reduce their dependence on energy and save on costs. Implementing the tips mentioned in our blog will help you identify major energy-wasting culprits in your business and take practical steps to minimise them. In the long run, these small actions will help to reduce your energy costs, making your business more sustainable and profitable. For more energy saving tips for your business, read more of our blog articles.