GREEN AND GOOD
Foodservice is the biggest industry in the United States and uses more energy per square foot than any other industry. Yet the technology in use today has not changed much since the Iron Age. There is tremendous potential for efficiency gains in just about every function, yet the topic has received shockingly little large-scale study. Unmanned drones are much more exciting to invent, I guess. President Obama, this issue clearly deserves its own Manhattan project.
Yet, some progress is happening.
Green Mechanicals
Drain-water heat recovery there are nifty little gizmos that wrap around drains and capture the heat when the water first goes down.
Radiant heating/cooling flooring
Closed loop heat and cooling recovery – This method involves a pipe containing water with a little antifreeze in it that take heat from where it isn’t wanted (refrigerators) to where it is (hot water) .
‘ERV’ air heat exchangers, these take the heat out of one airstream and put it in another very efficiently. In Darmstadt, Germany they have super insulated houses that use these plus the energy from equivalent to one hairdryer, to heat a house all winter. They capture cooled air too.
‘Displacement’ low velocity air conditioning this is a system that saves energy by throwing the cool air lower and slower in the room nearer the bodies that need it. You need a tall ceiling where hot air can collect..
‘Absorption’ type refrigeration technology
Powered by heat – This is too cool and too difficult to be understood by mere humans. Third Law of Thermodynamics or perpetual motion defying – anyone care to explain?
Structural and pipe insulation
Insulation is the smartest low-cost thing to do. Period.
Air curtains with open kitchens becoming more popular, this technology is going to be needed.
Grey water recovery – Restaurants use huge amounts of water – let’s make it so we can water plants and flush toilets with it.
Solar, -passive and photovoltaic – Great things are happening. Soon solar panels will be way cheaper and way more efficient. But not yet.. Way sooner if the price of oil goes up.
Wind energy – You can get this through the grid, and current subsidies make it only slightly more expensive. Buy a windmill so your customers get to see one that isn’t only on TV in a BP ad.
Hybrid delivery vehicles – That run off unit generated electricity and/or waste fryer oil
Smartgrid software – That manages energy use.
Variable speed controllers – That adjust according to demand – for exhausts, lighting, etc.
Green Practices
Waste recycling – Minimize the waste first. Sort right where and as waste is produced. Space a problem? Consider getting a compacter, they are pretty fun to use.
Small-scale aquaculture
Vertical and rooftop farming
Green Resources
The Green Restaurant Association www.dinegreen.com
Zero Energy Design www.zeroenergy.com
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers www.ashrae.org
Transportation Alternatives (I’m a board member) www.transalt.org