Blog: 8 ways to reduce energy bills in your pub and bar 

Why do we need to reduce energy consumption in hospitality businesses? 

With energy prices surging worldwide, reducing energy usage has become an urgent priority for pub and bar operators to control costs. Electricity, gas, and oil prices have all seen massive inflation, squeezing margins for these typically low-profit businesses. UKHospitality recently reported on the dramatic increases businesses are facing in rising operating costs, including a 41% average increase in energy bills. Energy bills are one of the highest building operational costs for a hospitality business, but there are a few easy ways to make a significant dent in energy use. 

How to reduce energy consumption in a restaurant or pub? 

Let’s look at some of the ways businesses can easily reduce energy use in their operation. 

Saving on heating and lighting 

Keeping guests comfortable and happy means big heating and lighting costs. You might even be running outdoor heaters to keep guests comfortable outside, which can be costly to run. Here are our top tips for reducing heating and lighting costs: 

• Use energy-saving bulbs – LED lighting is cheaper to run and lasts longer than other lighting options. Ensure that you are using the most efficient bulbs in your buildings. 
• Use sensors and timers for both lighting and heating – ensure you are only running heating and lighting in low-traffic areas when necessary by using automated timers and sensors. This is a great way to reduce the cost of outside heaters and lighting in places like the cellar. 
• Use timers and zoned areas for building heating if possible. If there are areas of the venue that are not always in use, they should not be heated when it’s not needed. 
• Regular service maintenance - Food-lead venues have a lot of high-cost equipment such as fridges and ovens and there are a few things you can do to ensure longevity and efficiency which can help achieve lower running costs. 
• Regular cleaning - Keeping kitchen equipment clean and regularly serviced is the best way to improve efficiency and use less energy to run. Regular servicing will help keep equipment running longer. 
• Energy-efficient models - As and when your kitchen equipment needs replacing, make sure you choose the most energy-efficient model you can find. 
• Do regular checks - Don’t wait for service issues or water leaks to become noticeable before they are fixed. Leaks that are discovered once they have caused a flood or visible damage often cost more and make equipment run less efficiently long before they are noticed. Check all water pipes regularly, as well as run regular maintenance.  

Updating old hardware 

Head to the front of the house to find electronic systems that are in use all day long and which are often left on 24/7. There are opportunities to upgrade and save on operational costs. 

• Use energy-saving electronic systems - Your EPoS system is likely to be on all day, and older models tend to be less energy-efficient than their newer counterparts. It’s not as difficult as you think to upgrade your EPoS system, and the energy-saving benefits across multiple sites can be significant. Our Access 8 terminals run on a processor that uses 33% less energy than an IP processor.

Consider the addition of new tech that integrates with your EPoS that you might introduce later, such as kitchen video or order and pay kiosks. Upgrading hardware now can put you in a better position down the road when opting for more technology-based solutions. 

Interested in a more energy efficient 2024?  

Rising energy costs are putting significant pressure on pub and bar operators. With the energy crisis impacting operating costs for everyone, implementing some ‘quick fixes’ can have a positive impact on your current energy bills.  

In this article, we covered steps operators can take to reduce energy bills in their businesses. From upgrading to energy-efficient lighting, installing smart controls and timers, optimising heating zones, regularly servicing equipment, choosing efficient models when replacing appliances, and fixing leaks early, to transitioning to energy-saving POS systems. Implementing these changes now can help hospitality businesses reduce their environmental impact while controlling one of their highest operating expenses.