Reducing energy costs is a must in today’s economic environment. Posting reminders for employees to turn off lights and shut doors is a good place to start.

Kilojolts Consulting Group’s See the Light Energy Toolkit provides operators with a turnkey solution to jump-start an energy-use reduction plan. The solution includes a training manual, employee motivation tools, posters and a pocket thermometer

Developing an energy management plan is essential to addressing energy use. An analysis of a restaurant’s energy use and demands is a good first step but not the final one.

Operators who build an automation system are one step closer to energy independence, saving costs and protecting the environment as a result. Such a system makes use of energy-management solutions and digital controls.

Operators also are considering alternative energy solutions, such as the Vegawatt Clean Energy System. The system transforms used cooking oil into supplemental power. Operators save on waste-oil-hauling fees as well as reduce energy costs.