Most everyone is familiar with the blue ENERGY STAR® sticker that is attached to commercial food service equipment, as well as many other products. This logo is the mark of approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that you have an energy efficient piece of restaurant equipment. By using ENERGY STAR® certified commercial food service equipment, you are not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the environment, but also improving your own profitability.
Why Choose ENERGY STAR® Certified Kitchen Equipment
With energy and labor costs on the rise, commercial kitchens everywhere are looking for ways to save money. One of the easiest and underutilized ways to improve your bottom line is to purchase a piece of ENERGY STAR® certified commercial food service equipment. Although it might have a larger price tag than non-certified equipment, by combining the energy savings you’ll receive plus the rebates available after purchase, you can be assured the return on investment will be significant.
Types of ENERGY STAR® Commercial Food Service Equipment
Currently, there are eight types of commercial kitchen equipment eligible to receive ENERGY STAR® certification. To become certified, equipment must pass strict requirements for energy efficiency and have high quality components. Once purchased, each piece of commercial equipment is eligible for rebates. Rebates range from $20 all the way up to $5000 depending on the equipment, state you live in and your energy provider.
Here’s a closer look at the eight ENERGY STAR® certified commercial food service equipment types along with their additional benefits and technologies:
Dishwashers
ENERGY STAR® certified dishwashers offer a number of benefits, including lower power mode during long idle periods, heat recovery, and dish load sensors. Additionally, manufacturers like Hobart -- known for delivering best in-class wash performance and versatility -- are always looking for new ways to help operators conserve time, money and energy through the development of exclusive new technologies.
Fryers
The benefits of ENERGY STAR® certified fryers include quicker recovery for continuous production and improved thermostat accuracy. Many of Vulcan’s gas and electric fryer models are ENERGY STAR® certified, including the 35lbVEG Series Gas Freestanding Fryer, the 45lb PowerFry3™ TR Series Gas Freestanding Fryer, the 50lb ER Series Electric Freestanding Fryer, the 40lb CEF Series Electric Counter Fryer, the 45lb PowerFry5™ VK Series Gas Freestanding Fryer, the 65lb PowerFry3™ TR Series Gas Freestanding Fryer, the 65lb PowerFry5™ VK Series Gas Freestanding Fryer, the 75lb CEF Series Electric Counter Fryer, the 85lb ER Series Electric Freestanding Fryer, the 85lb PowerFry3™ TR Series Gas Freestanding Fryer and the 85lb PowerFry5™ VK Series Gas Freestanding Fryer.
In addition to conserving money by conserving energy while also boasting lower lifetime operational costs, ENERGY STAR® certified fryers are also eligible for a rebate at the time of purchase.
Griddles
In addition to all the reliability, durability, performance, and innovation for which Vulcan gas and electric griddles are known, its ENERGY STAR® certified fryers also offer improved thermostatic controls and high production capacity. They include the 36" VCCG Series Gas Griddle, the 24" VCCG Series Gas Griddle, the 48" VCCG Series Gas Griddle, the 60" VCCG Series Gas Griddle, and the 72" VCCG Series Gas Griddle.
Hot Food Holding Cabinets
Heated holding and transport food warming cabinets keep foods at ideal temperatures from cooking to serving. Factor in ENERGY STAR® certification, and the benefits grow. You’ll also enjoy additional insulation and improved temperature uniformity when you add ENERGY STAR® certified heated holding cabinets to your commercial kitchen operations.
Ice Machines
Automatic commercial ice makers help restaurants delight customers with ice that is pure and always refreshing. In addition to offering quicker ice harvesting through harvest assist devices, ENERGY STAR® certified batch-type ice makers are up to 10 percent more energy efficient and 20 percent more water efficient compared to conventional models, while ENERGY STAR® certified continuous-type ice makers are up to 16 percent more energy efficient than their standard counterparts.
Ovens
Energy efficient commercial ovens are the workhorses of the foodservice industry with uses ranging from roasting and baking to warming and reheating. In addition to offering all of the performance-forward benefits for which Vulcan ovens are known, its 22 ENERGY STAR® certified also offer improved gaskets for faster and more uniform cooking processes. Whatever type of kitchen you’re operating, there’s an ENERGY STAR® certified Vulcan oven that can help you do much more with much less.
Refrigerators and Freezers
Swapping out your old commercial refrigerator and freezer comes with some serious energy savings. Thanks to technological advancements in insulation and compressors, today’s fridges boast features like improved fan blade design and uniform cabinet temperatures that make them significantly more efficient than older models. In fact, ENERGY STAR® certified fridges and freezers are approximately 9 percent and 10 percent more energy efficient, respectively, than those that merely meet federal standards.
The takeaway? Upgrading to ENERGY STAR® certified refrigeration equipment can help you slash your energy bills while doing your part to help the environment.
Steam Cookers
Steam cooking offers a host of beautiful benefits, including helping restaurants serve up the freshest and most nutritious menu items. With an ENERGY STAR® certified connectionless steam cooker, you’ll also enjoy reduced water water consumption. Vulcan’s Low Water Energy (LWE) models, meanwhile, reduce water usage by up to 90 percent over traditional models.
Vulcan’s six ENERGY STAR® certified steam cookers include the EA 3 Pan Electric Countertop Convection Steamer Low Water Energy, the EA 5 Pan Electric Countertop Convection Steamer Low Water Energy, the EO 3 Pan Electric Boilerless Countertop Convection Steamer, the EO 5 Pan Electric Boilerless Countertop Convection Steamer, the ET 10 Pan Electric Floor Convection Steamer Low Water Energy, and the ET 6 Pan Electric Floor Convection Steamer Low Water Energy.
Vulcan’s Commitment to Energy Efficiency
All in all, Vulcan offers over 10 ENERGY STAR® certified product series including fryers, griddles, ovens, heated holding cabinets and steamers to meet any operation’s needs. In 2017, Vulcan and ITW FEG received the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award for the eighth straight year, proving a long-lasting commitment to sustainability.
With more pressure than ever to go GREEN in today’s world and a push for kitchens to be more profitable and efficient, ENERGY STAR® certified commercial food service equipment is making it possible. With continued energy savings throughout the life of the equipment, as well as rebates offered all over the U.S. after purchasing, you can create a cleaner environment while helping improve your bottom line all without sacrificing performance.
Visit the ENERGY STAR website to view a list of certified products by category.
Sources:
www.energystar.gov, https://www.energystar.gov/products/commercial_food_service_equipment/commercial_ice_makers