Kitchens and Restaurants
Install High-efficiency Restaurant Equipment
What Is It?
ENERGY STAR-labeled and high-efficiency restaurant equipment are designed and approved to use less water and energy than other equipment. Refrigerators, ice machines, fryers, and dishwashers are a few of the ENERGY STAR-labeled appliances available.
In addition to saving energy through smart appliance upgrading and use, managing food waste is an incredibly important part of having a environmentally-friendly restaurant. The United Nations found that if food waste were a country, it would rank third behind the US and China in greenhouse gas emissions (UN FAO). For more information, see the Waste category in this toolkit.
Benefits
ENERGY STAR-labeled products use less energy than conventional appliances and therefore cost less to operate, lowering utility bills and reducing demand on the energy grid. ENERGY STAR-labeled restaurant equipment typically uses about a third of the energy of conventional models without sacrificing features, style, or performance. “Green” restaurants are also very marketable, and may draw business from socially- and environmentally-conscious potential customers.
Financing Options, Incentives, and Rebates
- Mass Save: Business Rebates
- Mass Save: Food Service Equipment Rebate
- GasNetworks: Commercial Rebates, including Kitchen Equipment Rebates
- National Grid: Rebates Database
NEWS
- “Efficient equipment is the key to big savings,” National Restaurant Association, Dec. 15, 2016
Resources
- ENERGY STAR:
- ENERGY STAR for Small Business: Restaurants
- ENERGY STAR® Guide for Cafés, Restaurants, and Institutional Kitchens
- Energy Use and Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Restaurants
- Commercial Kitchen Equipment Energy Savings Fact Sheet
- Commercial Foodservice Equipment page
- For Commercial Kitchens: Helping Customers Manage Costs Through Energy Savings
- Sustainable Foodservice Consulting: Efficient Commercial Kitchen Equipment
- BusinessUSA: Energy Saving Calculators from ENERGY STAR
- National Restaurant Association: Conserve Program
- Green Restaurant Association: Guide to GRA-endorsed products
- US DOE: Kitchen Appliance saving tips
- ENERGY STAR: case studies
- See also:
A Sample of Providers
PROJECT EXAMPLES
- Mezza Luna restaurant in Cape Cod, MA, rebuilt their building after a fire, purchasing the most energy-efficient equipment possible
