TEN WAYS TO CUT ENERGY USE IN WAREWASHING

Advice on buying a greener machine from the experts at Winterhalter

In the market for a warewasher?  Dishwashers, glass washers and utensil washers use a lot of energy, so you can save a lot of money if you invest in an energy efficient model.  Plus, an energy efficient machine is more sustainable and better for the environment. 

There’s never been a better time to invest in energy-saving equipment.  The super-deduction allowance incentivising companies to invest in new machinery applies to operators buying the latest kitchen equipment.  The scheme offers a 130% capital allowance and a 50% first-year allowance for qualifying products, enabling you to cut your tax bill by up to 25p for every £1 you invest.  The Government’s target of Net Zero Carbon by 2050 is only three kitchen refurbs away, so you need to be thinking about sustainability.  Meanwhile energy prices are rocketing, and your return on investment is an even bigger incentive for specifying energy-saving equipment. 

So what does an energy efficient warewasher look like?  There are no energy labels for commercial warewashers yet, so the experts at market-leading manufacturer Winterhalter have put together a top ten, listing what to look out for if you want your new machine to be as energy efficient as possible. 

• Insulation: like a house, the better a machine is insulated the less energy it consumes, because it holds the heat inside.  Look for machines that have a double skin construction.

• Eco modes: premium manufacturers develop advanced software to operate their machines, so you just choose the appropriate setting via the control panel and away it goes.  Look for software functions like Eco modes that will alter machine settings to reduce energy consumption.

• Connectivity: a warewasher that’s connected to the internet can be monitored remotely by managers and service providers.  Apps such as Winterhalter’s Connected Wash will automatically review the data and make operational recommendations that can have a big impact and reduce energy consumption.  For example, they will highlight if there’s a gap between the time a machine is turned on and its first wash – because during that gap, energy is being wasted. 

• Save water: choose machines that have features that reduce water consumption – before you buy, ask how much water is used for each wash cycle.  Most of the energy used by a warewasher is for heating water, so if it uses less water it will consume less energy.  However, make sure that the machine still delivers the best possible wash results. 

• Heat recycling: look for machines with features designed to reduce energy consumption.  Systems like heat pumps and heat recovery systems can greatly reduce energy use, delivering significant savings over the machine’s life. 

• Ultra-filtration: quality machines will use sophisticated filtration systems to remove dirt particles and keep the wash water cleaner for longer.  As well as reducing water consumption, and thus saving energy, ultra-filtration will deliver consistently high results, removing the need for re-washing. 

• Water treatment: the right internal or external water treatment will massively improve wash results.  It will also reduce energy costs, in two key ways.  Firstly, by eliminating poor wash results you save the energy you would have wasted because of the need to re-wash.  Secondly, the water treatment system helps protect the machine from scale build up, which can not only make the machine use more energy, but also lead to serious damage.  Ensure you get advice on the correct treatment, as some water treatment systems use more water and have higher running costs than others.

• Chemicals: some manufacturers, including Winterhalter, develop their own chemicals, specifically for use with their machines and the type of ware being washed. These chemicals will deliver better results and all but eliminate the extra energy consumption associated with re-washing.

• Service and maintenance: like a car, all warewashers require looking after.  Through regular servicing your engineer can ensure that it is running at optimum energy efficiency.  Look for a manufacturer that has its own service provision and packages,that uses genuine OE parts and can make planned preventive maintenance visits to your premises. Make sure your staff are trained to look after the machine day-to-day.  Service providers like Winterhalter will also offer training during a service engineer visit, to ensure your staff are using machines optimally.

• The right rack: the design of the rack will make a big difference to the quality of the wash, and different ware may require different racks.  A responsible supplier will be able to give you the best advice on the correct choice of racks, which is why Winterhalter offers a wide choice of different rack designs.  Using the correct racks for the items being washed, and ensuring the racks are in good condition, will deliver the best results and remove the energy costs associated with re-washing.