Top 5 Restaurant Energy Management System Considerations
The economy has forced most if not all U.S.
restaurants to seek ways to reduce non-essential and otherwise variable
costs. A new opportunity has emerged in recent years with the advent of
affordable lightweight energy management systems that can be controlled
on-site or remotely - particularly those designed specifically for
previously underserved small to medium sized restaurant facilities.
Today's dashboard touch panel-controlled "smart" energy management
systems enable restaurant users to easily view and reduce their
resource consumption in real time with the mere touch of a button,
resulting in utility bill savings upwards of 20% or more per month.
Although extraordinarily feature rich, modern restaurant energy
management and control systems are now far more cost effective to
deploy, with low starting price points, nominal monthly fees and rapid
return-on-investment in just 6 to 12 months.
Gus Ezcurra is CEO of Advanced Telemetry, developer of the industry-leading EcoViewTM smart energy and resource management system for business and residential applications. He may be reached through the company's Web site locate
Such advancements have generated enormous marketplace demand among
small and medium sized restaurants seeking proven, cost-effective ways
to "go green" and, in doing so, their boost bottom lines. Here are 5
key considerations to help restaurant executives make informed
decisions when considering an energy management system:
1. Ensure the solution specifically focuses on the HVAC system
Most
energy management products on the market today are too complex to
appropriately leverage or too simple to achieve the desired goal. To
maximize your energy savings, minimize related costs and realize a fast
payback, seek a product that specifically focuses on the HVAC system -
the largest controllable source of energy drain in a restaurant and,
thus, the quickest and easiest way to produce material savings.
Additional sensors to monitor and control other sources of energy use -
such as lighting, security, and office equipment - can always be
integrated into today's flexible, scalable products.
2. Seek a product that offers both on-site and remote measurement and control
Not only should an energy management system be controllable on-site,
but also remotely by either company personnel or even the
manufacturer's operations center professionals. By connecting to the
installed system via the Internet, manufacturers offering remote
capabilities, and dedicated administration thereof, can monitor a
restaurant's real time energy consumption and ensure that temperatures
do not go beyond a business' pre-set parameters. Such continuous
monitoring also enables the immediate flagging of consumption swings
and other anomalies, which can indicate larger mechanical malfunctions
early on. Ultimately, remote monitoring better assures that the
installed product is being used to the best of its capabilities and is
facilitating the expected energy and cost savings.
3. Opt for a quick-install system with low initial fees and ROI in less than 12 months
The best commercial energy management systems on the market today can
be delivered and installed in a restaurant for $2,000 or even less and
with a monthly service contract below $50. When one considers a monthly
business utility bill of $3,000, even a 15% monthly energy savings
would provide a return-on-investment in well under 6 months. Some
companies also offer flexible payment terms, such as a higher monthly
fee and lower upfront payments - particularly for multiple unit
operators. It's also important to ensure the system can be installed
rapidly to further mitigate up front fees.
4. Obtain a product with a robust yet user-friendly core feature set
In addition to graphical viewing of real-time and historical resource
consumption, today's best-of-breed energy control products provide a
robust feature set that, among other capabilities, allows restaurant
users to establish thermostat heating and cooling limits and set points
for different times of the day, and offer an automated "peak shaving"
option designed to reduce consumption during peak demand periods. Such
advanced systems can also readily block unauthorized access and changes
to the settings, and allow enabled users to view and alter the settings
and presentation information via the Web, smart phones, or the on-site
display.
5. Ensure the solution is proven with an established track record of success
When evaluating a product, it is imperative that the manufacturer can
point to a critical mass of real-world, not trial, restaurant
installations in the field, and will allow you to speak with actual
customers. When evaluating competing products, be sure to check
references not only about the quality and user-friendliness of the
product, but also the ease of installation, the hard cost savings
realized (and how quickly), and the level of post-deployment support
they receive from the manufacturer.
By using these 5 tips as a guideline, restaurants can best assure
they'll secure a well-rounded and cost effective energy management
system that will reduce their carbon footprint and energy consumption
while delivering notable monetary gains.