News

New filters promise to 'lower water costs, reduce kitchens' carbon footprint'

Restaurants in Connecticut, Rhode Island and the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island now have access to a money- and energy-saving clean technology.

July 8, 2015

Restaurants in Connecticut, Rhode Island and the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island now have access to a money- and energy-saving clean technology from EcoThermal Filters, according to a company press release.

As a division of energy solutions provider Next Step Living, EcoThermal Filters are designed to reduce hot water heating costs and a kitchen’s carbon footprint. Already helping dozens of Massachusetts commercial kitchens, the EcoThermal Filter System is eligible, in all markets covered, for utility rebates up to 70 percent of the cost of the system, said Geoff Chapin, CEO and founder of Next Step Living.

"By expanding the geographic reach of the EcoThermal Filters division, we’re increasing our ability to make a significant impact on the environment while also creating a practical economic benefit that can be helpful in tens of thousands of commercial kitchens," he said. "We look forward to helping kitchen operators in our new markets save energy and money."

How it works

The system captures waste heat from cook lines to preheat water, saving commercial kitchen operators thousands of dollars a year on their gas bills, Chapin said. The average, full-service restaurant kitchen uses 2,500 gallons of hot water on a daily basis for food prep, dishwashing and cleaning. At that rate, using the EcoThermal Filter System would lead to savings of nearly $6,000 in the first year alone and a reduction in carbon emissions by 19 metric tons, Chapin said.

Utility companies support the innovative product and, as a result, are offering rebates equivalent to 25 cents off per lifetime therm (a unit of heat) saved, with an anticipated system lifespan of 15 years, Chapin said. This translates into a 50 percent savings for lower gas usage kitchens and 70 percent savings for higher usage kitchens, making an already affordable product even more enticing.