When it comes to energy and water waste at your property, is your kitchen your worst enemy or your friend? I recently spoke with Richard Young, senior engineer, director of education, Food Service Technology Center (FSTC), San Ramon, Calif., and he told me the average restaurant kitchen uses five to seven times more energy per square foot than the rest of the building. (See related article.) Do you really know how much energy and water is consumed in your kitchen(s)? If you are submetering, you will know. If you are not doing that, you are just guessing each month.
If you are interested in rooting out the sources of waste in your kitchen, I highly recommend checking out the FSTC website. It is definitely one of the best websites I have seen when it comes to kitchen energy and water conservation. The site is rich with information about product rebates and includes conservation tips, helpful articles and reports, life-cycle and energy cost calculators, an outdoor air load calculator, and kitchen design guides.
FSTC, which was founded in 1987, develops comprehensive performance test methods, and applies them to equipment submitted by end-users and manufacturers. FSTC consists of a fully-instrumented 9,000-square-foot appliance research facility capable of measuring energy consumption of both gas and electric appliances under controlled laboratory conditions. FSTC is the primary information resource for the EPA’s Energy Star program for commercial food service and has contributed significantly to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Retail rating system.
Interested in knowing how appliances use energy in your kitchen? The FSTC site includes information about braising pans, broilers, dishwashing machines, fryers, griddles, ovens, pasta cookers, rangetops, steam kettles, and steamers. Interested in upgrading your lighting to save energy and cut costs? Watch one of the many videos on the FSTC site. Other videos focus on refrigeration maintenance, ventilation, sanitation, and cooking appliances.
What I love about FSTC is its enthusiasm for providing free information. “The depth of technical knowledge that we offer for free is a big deal for us,” FSTC’s Young told me.
Set aside some time soon to review the FSTC site. I guarantee that it will be time that will save you money.
GLN Adds Aquatherm Industries, Marietta Corp. as Directory Partners
Green Lodging News welcomes Aquatherm Industries and Marietta Corp. as Green Product & Service Directory partners. Aquatherm provides hybrid solar pool heating systems for hotels and resorts. A hybrid solar pool heating system can reduce 40 percent to 60 percent of the annual gas used to heat a year-round pool (the solar contribution is even higher for pools that are not heated year-round and can range up to 100 percent.) For more information, e-mail jgorran@warmwater.com, call (561) 638-7138, or click here.
Marietta offers a large selection of green amenities made at its U.S.-based manufacturing facilities. Many of the ingredients the company uses are organic, botanical, vegetable-based and biodegradable. All of the company’s bottles are 100 percent recyclable and many contain recycled plastics. Marietta’s sustainable manufacturing practices include: reducing utility usage (electricity, water, natural gas); reducing, reusing, and recycling operational waste and components; partnering with vendors, community organizations and companies to optimize environmental sustainability and recycling impact; and offering customers innovative sustainable packaging solutions. For more information, e-mail info@mariettacorp.com, call (800) 950-7772 in the United States, (800) 268-1885 in Canada, or click here.
Who is Your Environmental Champion?
In our Personnel Profile section we frequently profile individuals who lead sustainability efforts at either the corporate or property level. (Click here for examples.) We are always looking for new people to profile. Do you have someone in mind for our Personnel Profile section? Be sure to contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Advertising Opportunities
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots. Several new slots have opened up on the Green Lodging News website—two skyscraper ad spots on the right hand side of the site, and the Featured Product ad spot in the weekly newsletter and in the lower center area of the home page. Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com if you are interested in these ad spots. There are also many Green Supplier Spotlight dates available, and other spots on the website and in the weekly e-newsletter. The 2011 media kit is available by request or by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
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