Top 10 ways to go green

Hospitable Climes shares its advice on the best ways to be energy-efficient with Rosie Davenport

1 Cut kitchen consumption

Whenever possible - and within health and safety guidelines - change cooking practices to save energy; this often also improves food quality. For example, thaw food in a refrigerator in advance of cooking, whenever possible. This will significantly reduce cooking times and the amount of energy required. Also, encourage staff to report poorlymaintained equipment, especially damaged or poorly-fitting door seals on ovens, fridges or freezers.

To reduce energy consumption further, only turn equipment on when it is needed - if it isn't being used, turn it off, or down to its lowest setting.

2 Motivate your staff

Staff consider energy to be a fixed overhead cost they cannot avoid and not the controllable variable that it really is.

Typically, in pubs, energy costs will account for an average 3% of the total operating costs and these can be reduced by around 10%. In pubs that employ many part-timers and seasonal workers, it is important to give permanent, full-time staff, the responsibility to train and supervise temps and part-timers.

Explain the environmental reasons why it is important to save energy and discuss with them their current working practices, to see whether or not their tasks could be made more energy efficient. Ask for their ideas on energy conservation measures, but ensure that whatever the suggestion, the quality of your service will not be impaired, nor will safety be put in jeopardy.

3 Glasses

Try to ensure that the glass washer is operated only when full. If half loads are necessary and your glass washer allows it, always select the half-full option. Never wash glasses under running hot water.

4 Turn it off

Switch off cooking equipment as soon as you have finished cooking, and

apply the same principles to TV, video, computer, and audio equipment as soon as it is no longer required.

Most of these pieces of equipment have stand-by options, but these can consume as much as 70% of the daily energy consumed.

5 Stay cool

Minimise the amount of time that refrigerator doors are open. Remember that for each second the door is open, the fridge temperature may increase by between 1°C and 2°C.

6 Ice machines

Switch off ice machines at the end of the shift or in areas such as function rooms, where they are unlikely to be used for some time.

7 Be vigilant

Minimise operating times for central heating and air conditioning, if you have it. A reduction of 1°C in temperature represents 7% less energy consumption.

To reduce the use of the pub's air conditioning, ensure that the temperature at which it is set to come on is at least 5°C higher than that at which the central heating stops operating.

In the kitchen, make sure the freezer is

defrosted when necessary. A heavy build up

of ice can increase energy consumption by up to 20%.

Replace seals on refrigerator/freezer doors, if they are split or leaking cold air. Replace or repair leaking taps as soon as possible.

8 Heating

The sun provides a free source of both heat and light. In London, for example, a south facing window can generate 1,045 kWh of heat per square metre per year. This is the equivalent to around £73.15 in costs.

Using radiators effectively can also help. Turn the heating down or off, rather than opening windows while the radiators are on. When radiators have been turned down,

ensure they are turned back to their normal setting to keep visitors comfortable.

Aim to maintain temperatures between 15°C and 21°C.

9 Cellar management

Cellar areas account for 20% of all energy consumption in the average pub.

Shutting the door promptly as you enter the cellar area and when you leave it can help. So can switching off lights as you leave the cellar areas, along with ice machines and refrigerators or other energy-consuming equipment that is not required.

Also keep the cellar ventilation unit free of all obstructions.

When stacking crates and bottles outside the pub, ensure that you do not obstruct the refrigeration condenser unit. Report excessive heat or cold in the cellar (thermometer readings in excess of 13°C or below 8°C) to your pubco immediately, or call in a contractor to rectify the problem.

10 Lighting

Switch to more energy-efficient bulbs and only put lights on when absolutely necessary. Keep an eye on outside lights that accidentally get turned on when the wrong switch is flicked.

Getting started

To register with Hospitable Climates,

visit www.hospitableclimates.co.uk, or

call 0208 661 4932. For technical advice,

you can also call the Carbon Trust

helpline on 0800 085 2005 or log on to

www.carbontrust.co.uk

Other useful websites:

Environment Agency -

www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - www.defra.gov.uk 

Energy Management Solutions -

www.ems.co.uk

National Energy Trust - www.nef.org.uk

A carbon calculator found on the National Energy Foundation (NEF) website, www.nef.org.uk/energyadvice/co2calculator.htm, provides an easy way to "cheat" in terms of converting your own pub's energy units, found on your utility bills, (kWh and so forth) into carbon.