Every week we like to share a restaurant “Trick of the Trade” to our followers — it’s our way of using our years of industry experience to help our fellow foodservice operators. While there are plenty of “tricks” and tips regarding food, it is crucial to give special care to those little things that can make a big difference.
When’s the last time you looked at your restaurant’s electricity bill? Do you really read it? In other words, are you paying attention to the kilowatt usage? If you’re currently using incandescent or halogen light, take note now — there are real savings to be had if you make the necessary adjustments! Did you know that by simply replacing your restaurant lights with energy-saving bulbs like compact fluorescent or LEDs can lead to significant operating costs including labor costs? According to Energy Star, lighting makes up 13% of a typical restaurant operation.
According to this article by FERMag.com, the results of Chili’s LED program showed benefits were notable – they were able to cut wattage usage by more than 90%. Seeing how annual lighting costs at restaurants can range anywhere from $5,000 to $8000, this is an area of your business you cannot afford to miss.