The bar is often a focal point for restaurants. There’s usually plenty of laughter and chatter, but you want to make sure that there isn’t a great deal of energy loss. If your bar is not operating efficiently in terms of energy, it’s not giving your restaurant the financial boost that it could be.
If you have a bar in your restaurant and you want it to use less energy, here are five tips you can apply.
1. Energy-efficient lighting
Lighting is a big deal in a bar. It helps to create a desired environment, which plays a significant role in the customers’ experience. Without changing the vibe that your customers have grown to love, consider upgrading your lighting to be more efficient. Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting. LEDs use significantly less energy and have a longer lifespan, reducing both energy consumption and maintenance costs. (Does your bar have several neon signs? We discuss those here.)
2. Power management
Encourage staff to turn off lights, appliances, TVs, and equipment when not in use, especially during non-operating hours. Install occupancy sensors or timers to automatically control lighting in less frequented areas like bathrooms and storage closets.
3. Energy-efficient appliance
While turning off unnecessary equipment will help to conserve energy, investing in energy efficient equipment will give your bar an even bigger boost. Look for ENERGY STAR-rated appliances that have been designed to consume less energy while maintaining performance.
4. Efficient water use
In your bar, it’s important to implement water-saving practices, such as fixing leaks promptly, installing low-flow faucets and toilets, and using a commercial dishwasher that optimizes water usage. This will help to lower waste and your utility bill.
5. Evaluate the hours
Most bars have hours that are different from the restaurants in which they reside. You don’t want to disappoint customers, but you also want to make sure the bars’ open hours work well for the business. After all, the bar does require a significant amount of energy and staffing to operate. Are there slow nights for your bar? Hours at the beginning or the end of the night that attract few customers? If there are times where it would be more profitable for your bar to be closed, consider adjusting the operating hours.
Bars can be a big benefit to your restaurant, but you want to make sure there isn’t energy being wasted. If you want your bar to be more efficient, contact us at GWT2Energy, and we’ll put together a plan that will lead to more profit and energy savings!
