Cutting down on energy costs is an effective way to save money and boost profit margins for your hospitality business. Often, reducing expenditure threatens to aggravate staff or compromise on output, but going green offers money-saving benefits without running these risks. However, it can be challenging to know where to start. It’s often the more minor energy expenses that go unnoticed but significantly drain on your wallet over time. Making small and simple changes is an easy and effective way to save your Restaurant/Cafe business some serious money.
Set Goals
The vague intention of saving energy won’t suffice. If you’re serious about saving energy, it’s essential to define your goals to create a clear roadmap for your Restaurant/Cafe business. Outlining small and achievable targets will help to keep you on track and enable you to measure your progress accurately. Small changes add up to make a big difference over time.
Set aside time each month to compare your progress against your goals, adjust your targets and identify areas of improvement. This will help you devise an effective energy-saving strategy and focus your efforts on what works well for your Restaurant/Cafe business.
Encourage Employees to Save Energy
Of course, we all know that turning off appliances that aren’t in use is an easy way to save energy, but it’s straightforward for this to slip your mind. Create reminders and post them around your Restaurant/Cafe so that you and your staff remember to turn off lights and machines that you’re not using. Once the whole site gets into this energy-saving habit, you’ll see your power bills start to decrease.
Upgrade to Automatic Hand Dryers
Installing automatic hand dryers does present an upfront cost, but think of it as an energy-saving investment for your Restaurant/Cafe business. The cost of buying new paper towels every week adds up over time. Automatic hand dryers have an average lifespan of five years, and they will save you significant money over this period, especially if you select an energy-efficient model.
Switch Suppliers
When it comes to energy providers, it’s always a good idea to shop around to ensure that you’re getting the best deal. Energy suppliers don’t reward customer loyalty, so regularly compare energy prices and don’t be afraid to go elsewhere if you find a more cost-effective option. This can be a time-consuming task, so it may be worth outsourcing to a specialist who can find the very best deal for your Restaurant/Cafe business.
Make Use of Natural Light
Optimising your Restaurant/Cafe layout to get the most out of natural lighting has several benefits. As well as boosting your profits by saving money on artificial lighting, natural light also has many mental health benefits and can help boost morale. This, in turn, has a powerful effect on productivity. Therefore, it’s worth taking the time to review your Restaurant/Cafe layout and consider where you can make adjustments to keep artificial lighting to a minimum.
Invest in Insulation
Installing proper insulation can significantly impact your energy costs and, therefore, your profit margins. You don’t have to overhaul your Restaurant/Cafe completely; simply switching to energy-efficient windows and blinds can make a big difference. Improving your Restaurant/Cafe insulation means that your heating and cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard, and this can have an enormous impact on your energy costs.
Small Changes Lead to Big Improvements
Going green takes time, and you might not see a dramatic boost to your profits overnight. Still, consistent commitment to small energy-efficient changes will significantly increase your margins over time. Cutting down on energy is a very worthwhile endeavour for both your business and the health of the planet. The changes you make today will help to keep energy costs low for years to come.