A local restaurant with deep roots in the community cooked up a winning recipe to win this year’s B.C. Hydro small business energy challenge.
The Pear Tree Restaurant opened in 1997, and this past July and August, the challenge sparked an interest in conserving energy, and the business ended up reducing its use by 18.5 per cent – or $1,000 a year in electricity costs.
“We like to use only what we need in everything we consume: energy, food, fuel and all our purchasing,” said Scott Jaeger, chef and owner of the Pear Tree Restaurant, in a media release.
“So, other than making drastic changes, such as not running the air conditioner, I wasn’t sure if we’d find ways to reduce our energy use.”
The more significant upgrade came as a variable speed drive to the hood vent fan motor, which reduces air conditioning needs in the summer and heating in winter.
“I wish we had this 10 years ago,” Jaeger said. “It saves energy, and it’s made a massive improvement in comfort. The hood still operates at 100 per cent when we need it, but when we’re running it on a lower setting, the sound is about 10 per cent of what it used to be, and there is less air blowing on the staff all day.”
The Pear Tree also changed its kitchen, hallway and washroom lights from 50-watt halogen bulbs to 10-watt LEDs; added motion sensors to the washroom fans and lights; and insulated the hot water pipes.
Behaviour changes came from the staff, as well, with the creation of standard operating procedures for the front of the restaurant and kitchen.
“Now we start shutting down the biggest energy users as soon as the last customer has their main course, instead of waiting 20 minutes or so before realizing we don’t need to be running that equipment,” Jaeger said. “They’re still on top of it. It’s policy now.”
Each contestant worked with a LiveSmart business energy advisor to assess technical upgrades, arrange contractors and help improve conservation-oriented behavioural practices.
“Maybe we had more power to save,” Jaeger said about the win.
“The energy reduction from the hood is massive. And that’s the true win, I think.”
The Pear Tree will be participating in this year’s Candlelight Conservation Dinner event on Oct. 24, to show just how easy it is to save energy.
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