When Pizza Hut announced this summer it is adopting a new energy-monitoring system for 500 corporate locations, company officials touted the environmental benefits — plus a return on investment that is "quicker than a lot of things that we do."
Just how much — and how quickly — can a facility save through energy monitoring? The number is likely to surprise you, says Greg Fasullo, founder and CEO of EnTouch Controls, the Richardson, Texas-based company behind Pizza Hut's initiative.
"We can reduce the run-time of the HVAC systems in a facility by about 20 percent, and that will typically reduce the energy usage by 10 percent," Fasullo told MultiBriefs Exclusive. "That can translate to anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 in savings per location for a QSR to $15,000 to $20,000 for large fast-casual chains. The huge savings associated with energy usage is an untapped profit source."
Energy monitoring — what's that?
Awareness might be the only thing standing in the way of that profit. Although technology has transformed nearly every other aspect of the industry, when it comes to utilities, the status quo has ruled.
"Most restaurants are not using any kind of energy monitoring today," Fasullo said. "They hear that term and they automatically think of the old, legacy energy control systems that are very expensive, designed for big facilities and difficult to use."
But the name says it all: Energy monitoring tracks all the details of a facility's power usage. It shows how much energy is being used, where energy is being used, at what times of the day, and for how long. It's a lot of data that boils down to one thing: savings. You can see where you're wasting the most power — and devise a plan to stop it.
ENERGY STAR statistics show investing in energy efficiency can lead to a 30 percent return for restaurants. And energy monitoring does not require expensive retrofits or overhauled equipment. You can start with simple Wi-Fi thermostats, advises B. Kevin Folsom in Today's Facility Manager.
More than dollars — common sense
Cash savings are important, but Fasullo points out the "hidden" benefits of energy monitoring as well.
"If an HVAC system stops working, we'll know within about 15 minutes and can alert the facility," he said. "We can help prevent food spoilage that way. We can also help facilities with measurement and verification, which is really important in certain situations where regulations require that kind of reporting."
Sustainability — one of the key energy monitoring perks Pizza Hut cited — should not be overlooked.
"Profitability is the first concern if you're a restaurant, but the amount of carbon you can save is amazing," Fasullo said. "For Chuck E. Cheese's, we saved the equivalent of 700,000 trees per year. That helps make your brand a trusted brand while aligning with corporate sustainability initiatives."
