| By :
Jamie Simpson
It seems that everywhere a person turns there is something new, and different about the advantages of being energy efficient or eco-friendly. What does it all mean? How does the average caterer filter through the info, then find the truth about energy efficient industrial catering equipment? Replacing equipment is expensive, is it honestly worth the money and effort? The Energy Star label is one of the easiest ways to identify equipment that is energy efficient. It is recognized like a National standard. Energy star sets the industry standards that define what makes appliances energy efficient. They test all kinds of industrial equipment, just like they do household appliances. They compare numerous factors such as longevity, cost, energy consumption, and other aspects that affect how the equipment utilizes energy. There are many ways the equipment can be changed to decrease the amount of energy it uses. Energy star rated products feature more insulation than non qualified equipment. The equipment uses fluorescent lights that have magnetic ballasts. This makes them last longer and use less energy than their predecessors. The compressors use an eco-friendly refrigerant, and more efficient motors than its non qualified counterparts. The entire defrost systems are new and streamlined. The idle energy rates vary depending on the piece of equipment in question. It is essential to understand the specifications on the current equipment that the owner uses, in order to compare the equipment fairly with the newer models. It is not unreasonable to expect to recoup the additional expense of an energy efficient product in one to three years. The savings are significant even when only a few of the appliances are energy efficient. An owner must do their homework, and be able to make accurate comparisons. Major manufacturers are more than helpful in supply much of this information. For a catering company that purchased all energy star rated equipment, the savings per year will easily reach into the thousands of dollars. Of course, that is after the initial investment has been recouped. The owner also gets the benefit of a well designed, functional product. If the caterer is unable to lay out such a large amount of cash at once, consider replacing equipment piece by piece. This method helps the owner control the cash flow better. If starting a new restaurant, this is an excellent time to make the investment. Purchasing quality equipment that can offer significant savings over the long-term use of the equipment is a sound investment strategy. Many governments offer tax incentives to encourage owners to replace energy wasting equipment. The U.S. and U.K. are two such places. Both countries have tax incentives to encourage taking the old energy hungry products out of use. The consumer has the ultimate job of being informed. It is their responsibility to compare like products with clear, accurate information in order to avoid a costly mistake. Another consideration is the physical building where the equipment is in use. There must be appropriate wiring, outlets, and the like.
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articlesbacklink.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
