Corporate Cafeterias Get Energy Efficient

January 2, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

The cafeterias in Silicon Valley’s high-tech companies are finally being made more energy efficient, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

With the exception of data centers, kitchens typically use five times more energy than any other wing of the corporate campus. But only now are companies working to reduce the kitchen energy.

According to Richard Young, an engineer at PG&E’s Food Service Technology Center in San Ramon, corporations have avoided reforming the kitchens because they’re too complicated and there’s a lack of information. In addition, the U.S. Green Building Council has nothing in its guidelines to determine if a commercial kitchen is efficient.

To remedy this, the Food Service Technology Center has partnered with the council to develop standards for commercial kitchen appliances. Thus far, they’ve standardized energy usage in eight appliances but have twenty-seven more to go.

But there’s more than just the appliances, and some companies have employed innovative techniques to begin greening their cafeterias on their own. For instance, Google is moving away from disposable cutlery, and Yahoo offers free soda from machines that serve soda in eco-friendly reusable cups, not bottles and cans. And at Microsoft, ninety percent of its fryer oil is converted into biodiesel, and the rest is used to make soap.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader