Food Service Businesses Are Saving Energy and Money

Meet the unique needs of your food service business with new, high-efficiency natural gas equipment. It’s a smart way to reduce operational expenses while keeping employees and customers satisfied. With increased energy efficiency, your establishment will also reduce your carbon footprint.

Washington Gas offers incentives and technical assistance to help cover the cost of your purchase and set you up to save for years to come. Popular equipment upgrades for food service customers include:

  • Ovens
  • Gas fryers
  • Griddles
  • Broilers
  • Kitchen demand ventilation controls
  • Commercial dishwashers
  • Water and space heating equipment
  • HVAC tune-ups
  • Spray rinse valves

Together, HVAC and cooking account for around 63% of the energy a restaurant uses. And restaurants use five to 10 times more energy per square foot compared to other commercial buildings. Upgrading to high-efficiency natural gas equipment such as ovens and dishwashers is one of the best ways to reduce operating costs while getting the reliability and performance your restaurant needs to operate at its best.

Additional benefits may include:

  • Shortened cook times and increased production
  • Greater equipment reliability
  • Less downtime from equipment failures

Eligible Businesses

For assistance with determining eligibility, work with a participating Service Provider or contact us.

Incentive-Eligible Equipment

Washington Gas can help make energy-efficient restaurant equipment more affordable. Food service customers get an average incentive of $1,489 per project. That’s equal to purchasing 696 14-ounce wine glasses.

An average-sized grocery store spends more than $200,000 annually on energy costs. By improving energy efficiency at your store, you can save energy and money while increasing customer satisfaction.

Additional benefits may include:

  • Greater equipment reliability
  • Less downtime from equipment failures

Eligible Businesses

For assistance with determining eligibility, work with a participating Service Provider or contact us.

Incentive-Eligible Equipment

Washington Gas offers incentives to help you cover the cost of high-efficiency natural gas equipment. Per project, grocery stores get an average incentive of $2,583—the equivalent of selling 747 gallons of milk or 1,009 loaves of bread.

From bars and breweries to convenience stores and more, the food service industry consumes roughly 2.5 times more energy per square foot than commercial office buildings. New, high-efficiency natural gas equipment can help you:

  • Lower your operating costs
  • Shorten cook times and increase production
  • Reduce heat and water losses
  • Have greater equipment reliability
  • Avoid downtime from equipment failures

Eligible Businesses

For assistance with determining eligibility, work with a participating Service Provider or contact us.

Incentive-Eligible Equipment

Washington Gas offers incentives to help you cover the cost of high-efficiency natural gas equipment. Small food and beverage businesses earn an average incentive of $1,643. That’s enough to purchase 77 pounds of artisanal flour.

Food Service

ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT

EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

INCENTIVE

Combination Oven

ENERGY STAR® or ≥ 56% Efficient in Convection Mode

≥ 41% Efficient in Steam Mode

$2,200/unit

Convection Oven

ENERGY STAR or ≥ 46% Efficient

$400/unit

Rack Oven

ENERGY STAR or ≥ 48% Efficient

$3,000/unit

Commercial Fryer

ENERGY STAR or ≥ 50% Efficient

$400/unit

Griddle

ENERGY STAR or ≥ 38% Efficient

$300/unit

Pre-Rinse Spray Valve

1.1 GPM Unit

$30/unit

Steam Cooker

ENERGY STAR or ≥ 38% Efficient

$300/unit
Boiler Systems

ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT

CAPACITY

EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

INCENTIVE

Small Boiler Tier 1

< 300 MBH

90%+ AFUE

$4.00/MBH

Small Boiler Tier 2

< 300 MBH

92% AFUE

$5.50/MBH

Large Boiler Tier 1

> 300 MBH

90%+ TE

$2.50/MBH

Large Boiler Tier 2

> 300 MBH

92%+ TE

$3.00/MBH

Steam Traps (High Pressure > 75 PSIG)

N/A

> 75 PSIG, Tested

$300/unit

Steam Traps (High Pressure > 30 PSIG)

N/A

> 30 PSIG, Tested

$250/unit

Steam Traps (High Pressure > 15 PSIG)

N/A

> 15 PSIG, Tested

$200/unit
Water and Space Heating

 

ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT

 

CAPACITY

 

EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

 

INCENTIVE

Small Furnace Tier 1

< 225 MBH

92-95% AFUE

$2.50/MBH

Small Furnace Tier 2

< 225 MBH

95.1-98% AFUE

$3.00/MBH

Large Furnace Tier 1

≥ 225 MBH

92-95% AFUE

$2.25/MBH

Large Furnace Tier 2

≥ 225 MBH

95.1-98% AFUE

$2.75/MBH

Infrared Heater

N/A

N/A

$2.50/MBH

Small Storage Water Heater

N/A

0.64+ UEF

$100/unit

Large Storage Water Heater

> 75 MBH

94%+ TE

$650/unit

Small Tankless Water Heater

N/A

0.82+ UEF

$300/unit

Large Tankless Water Heater

> 200 MBH

86%+ TE

$650/unit

 

Miscellaneous High-Efficiency Measures

ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT

EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

INCENTIVE

Smart Thermostat

ENERGY STAR®

$75/unit

 

Let’s Get Started

We’re here to help. Washington Gas offers incentives and technical assistance to help you save. Follow these steps to receive incentives:

  1. Review your energy efficiency opportunities and eligibility.​
  2. Check that any new equipment would qualify for incentives.​
  3. Review our participating Service Providers and identify an installation contractor for your project OR ensure any non-participating installation contractor you’re working with registers with Washington Gas.
  4. Work with your participating Service Provider to submit your incentive application for pre-approval before purchasing new equipment or removing existing equipment. ​ Projects completed starting May 17, 2022 or in progress prior to September 1, 2022 will not require preapproval for incentive applications through December 31, 2022. All new incentive applications will require pre-approval after September 8, 2022.
  5. Work with your participating Service Provider and/or installation contractor to install your new equipment and submit the final paperwork.​
  6. Enjoy your savings

If you need support, contact a Washington Gas energy advisor or find a participating service provider.

Find a Service Provider

 

Sources: epa.gov, energystar.gov