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Energy

This translation was created from the original text using AI (DeepL).

Relevance to the Restaurant Industry

Energy is a major cost factor in the restaurant industry. At the same time, the consumption of fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and harms the climate and the environment. By using energy efficiently, restaurants can lower their energy consumption, reduce costs, and conserve resources. In light of rising energy costs and growing expectations from guests and society regarding sustainable business practices, this issue is becoming increasingly important. Even small measures, such as optimizing refrigeration systems, lighting, or kitchen appliances, can lead to noticeable savings and improve the efficiency of your business.

Advantages

  • Lower Energy and Operating Costs
  • Higher energy efficiency 
  • Conservation of natural resources 
  • Reduction of environmental and climate impacts 
  • Less dependence on rising energy prices 
  • Strengthened competitiveness 
  • Positive image among guests and business partners 
  • Contribution to sustainable development

Did you know that...

... 38% of HoReCa customers regard commitment to climate action, including reducing their energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, as among the most important issues in their business operations?*

* 2025 METRO Germany Customer Survey on Sustainability

... HoReCa customers are primarily interested in reducing their energy and water consumption?

... LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and have a significantly longer lifespan (which means you can save a lot of money)?

... food cooked on induction hobs absorbs 90% of the heat generated? By comparison, this figure is only 40–55% for gas hobs.

Tips

As a restaurant owner, there are many ways you can
save energy in your restaurant. You can implement some of these measures right away. Here’s how to get started:

Turn off any lights and electrical appliances you don't need

Save energy by turning off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances. For example, turn off the stove or deep fryer when not in use, and don’t start preheating until you actually need them. Your point-of-sale system and computers should also be turned off when they are not in use on days off or at night.

Determine a starting point and create a concrete action plan

Identify a starting point from which you can make improvements. Looking back on your successes can be a great source of motivation! Create an action plan with realistic goals for saving energy.

Please contact your energy provider

Contact your energy provider to find out how much energy you use each month. Check when your usage peaks and take a look at your bills to get an idea of the costs. You can also use a tracker to see how much energy you need.

Take Care of Your Refrigerators

It's important to understand how your refrigeration appliances work. For example, you should pay attention to the maximum amount of ice you can load so as not to overload the ventilation system. If the airflow is blocked, the appliance will consume more energy to produce the same amount of ice.

Check Your Refrigerator

If the seals on your refrigerator aren't clean, there's a risk that warm air will seep in. Make sure that your refrigerator's fans, as well as the cooling and ventilation vents behind freestanding refrigerators and freezers, aren't blocked.

Don't waste ice

Making ice is expensive and requires water and energy, so don't waste it. Fill up only as much as you need.

Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient ones

Use LED, halogen, and compact fluorescent bulbs in your kitchen and dining area. You can also install lights with automatic light sensors and motion detectors. This type of smart lighting can be used, for example, in restrooms, storage rooms, or utility rooms.

Clean and maintain your equipment

If you don't clean and maintain your appliances, they will consume more energy than necessary. For example, for appliances that use water, use a filtration system to prevent limescale and mineral deposits from damaging them.

Reduce Your Heating Needs

Reduce your heating needs, for example, by lowering the water temperatures. However, be sure to follow the required temperatures for washing dishes. You can also use energy-efficient hand dryers without heating elements in your restrooms.

Reorganize Your Kitchen

Organize your kitchen so that appliances that generate heat are not placed near refrigeration units. For example, make sure the stove isn't next to the ice maker so that you don't use more energy than necessary. You could, for example, make use of the energy-saving tips from METRO Germany.

In-depth study

Good to Know

Did you know that cooking with induction stoves is faster, safer, cleaner, and more efficient than cooking with a gas or electric stove? When cooking with induction,
On an induction stove, you can bring water to a boil in less than half the time it takes on a gas stove.
Although an induction stove is more expensive to buy, you'll save money in the long run.
Induction stoves stay cool. This means you won't heat up your kitchen any further, and you can't burn yourself on the stove.
Induction stoves are energy- and cost-efficient. Most of the heat energy generated is transferred to the pots.
Liquids and food don't burn or stick, so induction cooktops are much cleaner and easier to clean.

Advanced tips

If you’ve managed to implement some of the steps mentioned so far, you might want to consider investing in advanced energy-saving measures:

Energy saving light bulb

01

Install LED Bulbs

Did you know that LED bulbs use 90% less energy and last significantly longer than traditional incandescent bulbs? In the long run, purchasing these bulbs offers significant environmental and economic benefits.

Efficient devices

02

Replace Your Appliances

Choose energy-efficient appliances, such as ENERGY STAR-certified small household appliances or kitchen appliances with the energy label, where “A” indicates the highest efficiency rating.

Ambient temperature

03

Lower the ambient temperature in your kitchen

Use appliances that don’t unnecessarily raise the room temperature. Instead, you should reduce the ambient temperature in your kitchen by using, for example, induction cooktops, condensing range hoods, or spot air conditioners.

Air conditioning

04

Adjust the Ventilation

You can save energy by using appropriate fans or by cooling goods in the open air.

Renuable energy

05

Take Advantage of Renewable Energy Sources

By using renewable energy, you not only contribute to greater environmental protection, but you also benefit from long-term economic advantages.

Insulation

06

Improve Insulation

To minimize changes in room temperature, you should improve the thermal insulation of your facility. You can do this by installing automatic doors, night blinds, or heavy curtains at the entrance.

Progress

07

Check Your Progress

Check how your energy consumption has changed once you’ve taken some of the steps mentioned. Contact your local energy provider to learn about solutions that don’t require much effort.

Your Checklist
  • Analyze your usage and look for wasted energy
  • Use energy-efficient appliances
  • Start by implementing low-cost measures to save energy, then move on to more advanced methods
  • Contact your local energy provider to get information on renewable energy and efficient energy solutions
  • Ask your energy provider about services that can help you monitor your energy consumption
  • Identify where energy is being wasted, where energy demand is high, and where energy-intensive appliances are in use
  • Create an action plan and set realistic energy-saving goals
  • Inform and engage your staff
  • Share your progress with your guests
Food Safety
Water