Most restaurants are energy intensive facilities where significant energy-saving opportunities exist through wise operation and equipment selection. PG&E is in a position to support all restauranteurs become as energy efficient as possible with multiple resources at their disposal.

Below are a few tips to begin your journey with energy efficiency:

1) Assess your current operations!
Have a PG&E energy efficient representative and a food service energy analyst walk your facility to assess your current operations to recommend no and low-cost measures.

2) Conserve where unnecessary energy is being used!
Many of the times lighting is left on where it is not commonly needed "all day". One of the best ways to lower your energy costs is to turn things off when they are not in use. Install occupancy sensors, timers and photo sensors in non-essential areas such as walk-in coolers, restrooms and storerooms. Also, consider photo cells on parking lot lighting and timers for other outdoor lighting.

3) Leverage energy efficiency as a fixed reduction in utility usage over time!
When it is time to purchase new equipment, choose the most energy efficient equipment that you can. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on appliances and lighting. Most of the time, PG&E will offer a rebate for purchasing an energy efficient item. Refer to www.fishnick.com/saveenergy/rebates/ for eligible appliance rebates.

As always your PG&E field representative Rory Dimick is available to perform free energy audits for GGRA member restaurants with the goal of finding energy and water saving opportunities in each of your facilities. Feel free to contact your GGRA PG&E partner, Rory Dimick, today at (415) 828-0877.