The Carbon Trust predicts that £250 million in energy costs and more than a million tonnes of carbon could be saved every year in commercial kitchens if operators could identify the most energy efficient equipment for their businesses.
The Trust also warns that energy costs could rise by a further £154 million a year by 2020 if the current short-term approach to the cost of capital equipment continues.
This worrying scenario has prompted the launch of the ‘Cut Costs and Carbon Calculator’, developed by the Carbon Trust, CESA, CEDA, FCSI, BHA and DEFRA. It has been designed to enable any business involved in the design, specification or management of a catering operation to reduce its energy costs and carbon emissions.
However, one enterprising catering equipment distributor, while welcoming the innovation as a step forward for the industry, is already ahead of the game as far as energy monitoring and assessment goes.