Energy Trust Home > Business Energy Solutions > Existing Buildings >Restaurant/Foodservice

How restaurants can serve up energy savings

Restaurants and foodservice buildings use more energy per square-foot than any other type of commercial building. Industry-wide, an estimated 80 percent of the energy is wasted through inefficient equipment. That waste eats away at profit margins.

Energy Trust can help you hold the line against rising energy costs by with energy-efficiency upgrades that:

In fact, according to ENERGY STAR^® experts, a ten percent reduction in energy costs for the average limited service restaurant can boost net profit margins by as much as four percent and sales per square foot by $17.

Earn cash incentives

Energy Trust can help you offset the cost of upgrades for efficient equipment or solar measures. Restaurants can earn cash incentives for:

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Equipment

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning  equipment (including insulation and tankless water heaters) – Heating and cooling is the largest energy expense for many businesses. We can help you get high-quality efficient equipment that will reduce your operating costs. We offer incentives on natural gas radiant heat systems, condensing boilers, unitary and split system air conditioners, air-to-air heat pump systems, package terminal heat pumps for hotels, dormitories or nursing homes, and much more. We also offer incentives on natural gas-fired tankless water heaters.

Heat Pumps
Equipment	Minimum Efficiency EER/SEER	Minimum Efficiency HSPF/COP	Incentive
Air to Air Heat Pumps (AAHP) 1 to 15 ton	13.0 to 10.1	7.7 to 3.5	$150 - $2250
Water Source Heat Pumps (WSHP) 1 to 20 tons	14.0	4.6	$200 - $4000
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) 1 to 10 tons	15.0	3.4	$300 to $3000
Package Terminal Heat Pump (PTHP)	Approved by ETO		$ 100 each
Air Conditioners
Size (kBtu/hr)	EER		Incentive
73.0	11.0		$120
94.0	11.0		$165
103.0	11.0		$185
117.0	11.0		$175
154.0	10.8		$375
189.0	10.8		$495
220.0	10.8		$475
268.0	10.0		$225
300.0	10.0		$300

See these program information sheets for qualifying incentives and more information:

• Premium air conditioner incentives  (sheet 192H)
• Heat Pump incentives (sheet 197H)
• Lodging and foodservice incentives  (sheet 194F) – for package terminal heat pumps

Kitchen Equipment

Kitchen equipment (cooking, refrigeration, icemakers, dishwashers) –  Outdated refrigerators, fryers and other kitchen equipment can be notorious energy wasters. Restaurants, foodservice operations and any commercial building with kitchen equipment can use Energy Trust incentives to offset the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.

Equipment	Incentive	Equipment	Incentive
Electric Steamer	$250	Commercial Laundry Washers, Gas or Electric	$100
Electric Hot Food Cabinet	$400	Refrigerator	$150
Gas Fryer	$1,000	Freezer	$150
Gas Convection Oven	$1,000	Dishwasher, High Temp Undercounter	$200
Vent Hood	$300	Dishwasher, High Temp single tank door/upright	$400
Electrically Commutating Motor (ECM)	$45	Dishwasher, Conveyor, High/Low Temp	$500

See these links for qualifying incentives and more information:

• Lodging and foodservice equipment incentives (sheet 194F)
• ENERGY STAR^® Web site with list of ENERGY STAR-qualified foodservice equipment

Lighting and Lighting Controls

Lighting and lighting controls – Lighting retrofits are often the first place to look for energy savings. The projects are usually easily achievable. New lighting technologies help reduce energy costs and also enhance employee comfort and productivity. In retail and restaurant settings, good lighting can have a positive impact on sales.

 

For each:	Incentives up to:	For each:	Incentives up to:
Compact Fluorescent Lighting Fixture(Replace Incandescent)	$45	2 or 3 Foot and U Shape Fluorescent Fixture, T12 to T8 and Electronic Ballast	$10
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Fixture (Replacing Incandescent or Mercury Vapor)	$40	4-Foot Fluorescent Fixture, T12 to T8 and Electronic Ballast	$20
Exit Sign	$20	6 or 8-Foot Fluorescent Fixture, T12 To T8 (800 Series) and Electronic Ballast	$10
Lighting Control	$75	8-Foot Fluorescent Fixture Conversion (800 Series) and Electronic Ballast to 4-Foot Lamps	$20

See these sheets for qualifying incentives and more information:

• Lighting Incentives (sheet 190L)
• High-Performance T8 Lighting System Specifications
• Qualifying High-Performance 4’ T8 Lamps

Natural Gas

Natural-Gas – We offer incentives on natural-gas radiant heat systems, condensing boilers, and natural gas-fired tankless water heaters.

Measure	Unit Incentive	Measure	Unit Incentive
HVAC Unit Heater	$1.50/kBtu/ hr in	Warm-Air Furnace < 225,000 kBtuh	$3.00/kBtu/ hr in
Radiant Heating	$6.50/kBtu/ hr in	Insulation	$0.20/sq.ft.
Insulation	$0.20/sq.ft.	Insulation	$0.20/sq.ft.
Domestic Hot Water Tanks	$2.50/kBtu/ hr in	Domestic Tankless/ Instantaneous Water Heaters	$2.00/kBtu/ hr in
Boiler	$4.00/kBtu/ hr in	Boiler Vent Damper	$1,000/vent damper
Steam Traps	$100 per trap

See this sheet for qualifying incentives and more information:

• Premium natural gas incentives (sheet 193G) – including insulation and tankless water heaters

Solar Electric

Your Own Clean, Green Power Plant

Tap into clean, green renewable energy with a solar electric system for your business. Investing in solar energy lowers your energy costs, while demonstrating your commitment to curb global warming. Visit the Commercial Solar program pages for full details.

Cash Incentives

Energy Trust offers cash incentives that can be combined with state and federal tax credits, making solar energy more affordable than you think. Your up-front investment may be paid back in less than 5 years. After that, your system will deliver pollution-free electricity for years to come.

Incentives are based on the rated power capacity of the solar array in watts_DC. The per-watt and maximum incentive amounts are listed below:

	Systems under 30,000 watts	Systems over 30,000 watts	Maximum incentive (100,000 watts)
Pacific Power	$1.25/watt	Varies from $1.00 to $1.25/watt	$100,000
PGE	$1.50/watt	Varies from $1.25 to $1.50/watt	$125,000

For systems up to 100 kW, businesses will own green tags during the first 2 years of operation, and Energy Trust will own green tags during years 3 through 20. Incentive levels are subject to change.

Government/Nonprofit Incentives

Resources

Results for Your Business

* Reduce operating costs
* Hedge against rising energy prices
* Help achieve a LEED^® rating for your new building
* Show employees and customers you support renewable energy
* Take positive action against global warming
* Reduce your company’s carbon footprint
* Distinguish your business as a community leader

Solar energy is a smart investment for your business—and future generations.

Solar Water Heating

Energy Trust helps make solar energy affordable and easy to install. See the Solar Water Heating program pages for full details.

• Commercial Fact Sheet for Solar Water Heating

Cash Incentives*

If you're an Oregon customer of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas our qualified contractors can help you install a solar water heating system on your business. We offer the following incentives:

	PGE/Pacific Power using electric water heating	NW Natural/Cascade using gas water heating	Maximum incentive limit
Commercial hot water	$0.40 per first-year kWh savings	$6.00 per first-year therm savings	Up to 35% of project cost
Commercial Pools	$0.10 per first-year kWh savings	$1.50 per first-year therm savings	Up to 35% of project cost

In addition to Energy Trust incentives, Oregon state energy tax credits and federal tax incentives are available to help cover much of the cost of a solar water heating system.

State and Federal Income Tax Credits available:

- A state business energy tax credit through the Oregon Department of Energy of up to 50% of system cost, applied over 5 years.  Solar domestic hot water and solar pool heating systems are eligible.

- A federal investment tax credit of 30% of installed cost, and accelerated depreciation.  Note: solar pool heating systems are not eligible for the federal investment tax credit.

*incentives subject to change

 

For incentive amounts, see our summary sheet of Lodging and Foodservice Equipment Incentives (sheet 194F).

To qualify for incentives, equipment must meet Energy Trust specifications. Lighting and custom projects must be pre-approved.

If you’re planning to build a restaurant, or if you’re planning a major renovation that includes the replacement of one or more mechanical systems, learn how Energy Trust’s New Buildings program can help.

Start saving today!

To get started, contact Lyn Schmidt by or call 503-224-4751.