Keep energy costs low for your catering business

Catering Energy FAQs

• How Long Does it Take to Switch Catering Business Energy Suppliers?

  When switching an energy contract for a catering business the process usually takes around 5 days to be completed.

• Can I Compare Energy Suppliers for More Than One Location?

  If your catering business has more than one location, you may be best suited to a multi-site energy deal.

   

  You will be able to consolidate your business meters and bills into one account. This makes them easier to keep track of and manage.

   

  Our energy experts will be able to advise you on multi-site contracts. We will help you find the best deal for your company.

• Will Switching My Energy Provider Affect My Power Supply?

  No, switching suppliers will not impact your gas or electricity supply in any way. Your power supply will continue as normal during and after your supplier switch.

• How To Save Money On Cleaning And Maintenance In Your Restaurant/ Commercial Kitchen

  For Restaurants

  Maintenance in all areas of your restaurant is key to reducing energy usage and cutting costs. For example, organising an annual service for your boiler can help to keep it functioning efficiently and prolong its working life.

  We also recommend that you keep all areas within your restaurant clean, especially around your appliances. Not only can this help to make the place more hygienic, but it could also help to prevent appliance faults or breakdowns caused by dust, grime or other debris.

   

  For Commercial Kitchens

  Investment in new equipment for a commercial kitchen is not the only way to reduce energy consumption. Making sure your commercial kitchen is clean and equipment is well-maintained impacts efficiency, especially in and around ovens and condensing coils on refrigerators.

  If someone reports a leak or damage to an appliance which will impact efficiency, make sure this is addressed as quickly as possible. For example, if there are complaints that hot water is slow this may be a sign of problems with your boiler or pipes.

  Investing in an annual service of the heating system can improve efficiency by up to 15%. Another common problem that is often overlooked is wear and tear to refrigerator and freezer doors. If they are not closing properly, they need to work harder to keep food cold. Repairing them is often inexpensive and will result in savings on your electricity bills.

  Ask your kitchen staff to reflect on the layout of your kitchen. For instance, if the freezers are next to the cookers in your kitchen, they will need to work harder and therefore use more energy to keep food at a cool temperature. Moving them to a less hot location in the kitchen can therefore reduce your electricity bills.

• How Can I Save Money On Water In My Restaurant/ Commercial Kitchen?

  For Restaurants

  Around 17% of your restaurant’s gas bill is likely to be spent on heating water. To reduce these costs, you could implement simple measures such as insulating your hot water pipes and cylinder to keep water warm for longer periods.

  You could also invest in tap aerators or spray water taps to reduce water usage. Additionally, we recommend that you fix leaking or dripping taps as soon as possible to lower wastage. A dripping tap could waste over 5,000 litres of water per year!

  For Commercial Kitchens

  As well as energy, water is another key waste point in a commercial kitchen which also has a cost for your business. Investing in water-saving devices over taps can reduce water draining away without being used.

  As important though is to instigate behavioural changes in your staff. For example, dishwashers use a lot of water, as well as electricity. If staff ensure they are full before they are switched, you will see your energy bills fall. Equally, ensuring staff are mindful of water waste as they look to defrost food, or wash dishes by hand can make a big difference. Putting up signs to remind staff of key changes you would like to see will hopefully keep them motivated.

  Finding a great value commercial water contract is another way to reduce your water bills.

• Is My Lighting Energy Efficient Enough?

  To increase energy efficiency and lower your restaurant’s overheads, we highly recommend investing in energy-saving LED lightbulbs. LEDs use 90% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and they are longer-lasting, so you can save on purchase costs.

  As well as investing in energy-efficient bulbs, you could also install movement sensors to ensure that lighting is not used in unoccupied rooms. Additionally, encourage staff to make use of natural light and ensure that all lights are switched off when they aren’t needed.

• How To Control The Heating, Ventilation And Air-Conditioning In A Restaurant Or Commercial Kitchen

  Keeping the temperature bearable for staff is an ongoing problem for commercial kitchens. Premises that feature poor ventilation and insulation can create bigger spending on your energy bill. Of course, investment in improved ventilation systems will reduce this, but in rented premises, your options may be limited.

  Investing in smart energy controls can at least make sure that your staff are able to respond to climatic changes in real time and focus on specific spaces, thereby improving efficiency.

  Zoned heating is often recommended in restaurants as it helps to cut heating costs without compromising the comfort of your customers and employees. This method allows you to reduce the heating settings in certain areas of your business, whilst maintaining ideal temperatures elsewhere.

  You should also aim to set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting and match your timer to your hours of use to save costs. Investing in a smart thermostat could help you with this. These intelligent devices are designed to provide you with enhanced control over your restaurant’s heating.

  We recommend that you get all your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (where applicable) serviced regularly to prevent costly breakdowns and malfunctions. You should also turn off kitchen extraction hoods when they are not in use.

  Bonus tip: Be sure to keep windows and doors shut in locations that require more heat, such as customer seating areas.

• Where Is The Best Place To Put The Refrigerator?

  As aforementioned, restaurants tend to spend a significant amount of money on refrigerating goods.

  Simple measures such as placing your fridges and freezers in the coldest part of your kitchen could help you save. When these cooling systems are located near heating systems like ovens and hobs, they have to use more energy to maintain cool temperatures.

  Additionally, you could reduce refrigeration costs by investing in AA++ energy-efficient rated systems. You should also ensure that your equipment’s condensers and evaporators are kept clean and keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

  Furthermore, we recommend that you defrost and clean your fridges regularly and check that all the seals on your cooling equipment and cold rooms are working effectively.

• Is My Kitchen Equipment Energy Efficient?

  For Restaurants

  Investing in energy-efficient catering equipment could significantly reduce your energy consumption. Always aim to purchase products that have a high energy label rating, as these will help you save energy.

  For example, induction hobs use approximately 50% less energy than their gas or electric versions. They’re also designed to heat up quickly and they emit less heat during operation, so you could also save on ventilation costs.

  Additionally, modern deep-fat fryers use as much as 50% less energy than older models. They’re manufactured to heat up quickly, and they can filter oil to maintain high efficiency.

  You could also reduce your energy consumption by investing in steam ovens. With innovative, energy-saving technology such as triple-glazed viewing doors and heat re-circulation, these systems could cut costs by 40%.

  For Commercial Kitchens

  Investing in energy-efficient commercial kitchen appliances is a guaranteed way to reduce your energy consumption without changing the behaviour of your staff and how your kitchen operates.

  This is especially true with large items like fridges and freezers. Refrigeration and freezing make up 30% of energy usage in an average commercial kitchen. Switching to energy-efficient appliances which use less power is a sensible move.

  Once it is time to replace items, make sure you factor in energy efficiency ratings. A more expensive but more efficient appliance will save you more money in the long term. Energy Star commercial kitchen equipment (originating from America) or EU energy labels are the certifications which inform you of the energy efficiency of appliances.

  Beyond kitchen equipment, lighting is another significant drain on electricity in a commercial kitchen. Of course, ensuring the lights are turned off when the kitchen closes can be a big plus. If you haven’t already done so, switch to LED lighting. It offers brighter power whilst using up to 70% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs.