As licensees and operators up and down the country look to maximise energy savings Heineken UK has stepped in to share its top energy saving tips and is advising operators to focus on the basics and work collaboratively with staff to save energy.
Future Net Zero’s Ellis Hall suggests that building energy saving into team objectives means everyone has an interest in making changes, and, if you can, offer an incentive to the most inventive member.
Some of the tips are obvious, but there is no harm in reinforcing them.
You can read these tips below.
It sounds obvious, but make sure that you measure your usage. Knowing how much energy you’re consuming, in what areas and at what times is the key first step to improving energy efficiency.
For a relatively low upfront cost, fitting an AMR meter creates a connection between a business and its energy supplier to ensure accurate usage measurement and billing. Data from the AMR meter can help inform your energy reduction decisions, allowing you to identify areas of highest use – usually in the kitchen, bar and cellar – and therefore opportunities for greatest savings as well as see the impact your changes are making.
Should you live on-site themselves, ensure there is a different meter for domestic and business use because the government’s new energy plan differs for homes and businesses.
Consider when different areas are in use and set thermostats independently, so spaces like function rooms and accommodation are only heated when needed.
You may already have a ‘switch off’ policy in place for light switches and other electrical appliances but make sure to put up signage above switches and on doors to help remind everyone. Ensure all team members are checking that devices aren’t left on standby and turn off display fridges and consolidate content into one fridge overnight where possible.
If you are running old appliances or using old equipment, then these can be energy hungry. Sometimes it might be more efficient and cost effective to replace very old items. For example, make sure that door seals on fridges or freezers are up to standard and not leaking cool air and check your oven seals regularly as well. You can also use variable extraction and turn it down to conserve energy.
The initial outlay may be a lot, but it could save you money in the long run. It’s often worth speaking with your suppliers – for example, the HEINEKEN Buying Club offers savings on equipment including the most energy efficient fridges and glasswashers on the market.
Ask kitchen staff to only turn on stoves and hobs just before service rather than to warm the kitchen, and appliances like dishwashers, should be fully loaded and turned to the most efficient cycle. Kitchens are typically one of the highest energy usage areas, so encourage the team to get creative over ways to reduce energy consumption. This could include coming up with less energy intensive dishes to feature on the menu.
Keep cellar doors closed between visits and ensure cellars are well insulated to prevent the overuse of cooling systems, especially when the weather is warmer. Right-sizing the cellar for your bar and therefore the amount of stock ensures empty spaces aren’t being unnecessarily chilled, which is also an energy drain. This can be as simple as fitting a butchers-style plastic curtain to help reduce the area being chilled.
SmartDispense™ offers a free right-sizing service during install to help increase efficiencies.
Keep track of and improve a cellar’s efficiency by installing a wall-mounted thermometer, regularly topping up cooling equipment with water, checking fans and condensers are free from dust and blockages, and keeping a planned schedule of maintenance to avoid costly breakdowns.
As an add-on for HEINEKEN SmartDispense™ customers, CellarManager can cut energy consumption and costs by 36% a year[1]. CellarManager reduces unnecessary cooling during quiet periods or when closed, maximising efficiency while maintaining beer quality, and is estimated to save each outlet an average of 5,221 KWh annually, with a CO2e reduction of 1.11 tonnes.