Following electrical power requirements is essential for many businesses, especially for the restaurant and grocery store industries. A consistent source of electrical power supports smooth and efficient operations, food safety and customer comfort. During a power outage, it determines whether you can keep running your kitchen or grocery store refrigerators.
Let’s walk through the energy requirements for these businesses, some tips to stay energy-efficient and the importance of investing in a backup generator for a restaurant or grocery store.
Restaurants, cafes and grocery markets often require higher electric power to operate a range of equipment and utilities. On top of this, depending on the state, they must adhere to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sanitation codes and safety regulations to maintain health standards. Generally, food service industries rely on many types of equipment, such as refrigerators and freezers, to keep food stable and prevent spoilage.
Moreover, high energy use to run commercial establishments can strain the local energy infrastructure, especially during peak demand times. This results in power outages, which disrupt business operations and lead to financial losses. To avoid this, building planners and engineers review the energy requirements for grocery markets and restaurants. They may also invest in a reliable commercial power backup for refrigerators and other important equipment.
Here’s a rundown of common equipment and utilities in restaurants and grocery stores with general power consumption estimates.
Equipment energy consumption varies depending on various factors, such as equipment model, size, frequency of use and energy efficiency. Here’s a list of basic restaurant and grocery store appliances:
In 2023, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published research from the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS). They found that U.S. commercial buildings consumed a total of 6,787 trillion British thermal units. Electricity and natural gas were the primary power sources for commercial buildings, with 60% of energy from electricity and only 34% from natural gas.
EIA’s research includes energy consumption by different types of commercial buildings based on business activities, power sources and how energy is used in each building. The food service sector, which includes restaurants, consumed 207 trillion British thermal units of electricity. Meanwhile, the food sales sector, which includes grocery stores and supermarkets, consumed 183 trillion British thermal units of electricity.
The research also broke down the total energy consumption of U.S. commercial buildings:
While you use many types of equipment, you can still decrease your electrical consumption by implementing these effective energy conservation tips:
Sudden power interruptions, especially prolonged electricity loss during harsh weather, can severely impact grocery stores and restaurants. It may cause the following situations:
Investing in a powerful commercial generator ensures your restaurant or grocery store continues to run efficiently during power outages. With a power backup for refrigerators, you can maintain safe storage temperatures for all sorts of perishable goods, preventing constant inventory loss. This protection allows your store or restaurant to stay open and continue serving customers, positioning your business as a reliable establishment.
Moreover, food safety becomes a concern if you can’t maintain safe storage temperatures. A reliable commercial generator keeps your refrigeration systems running consistently, ensuring its quality and safety for consumption.
In case of a power outage, many large grocery stores and food service businesses have backup generators to sustain operations and preserve food quality for safe consumption. While grocery stores are not required to have commercial generators, they are essential for maintaining operations, especially in hurricane-prone areas that need grocery stores open during long power interruptions.
Besides preventing financial loss, powerful commercial generator systems help food service sectors serve communities and foster goodwill during emergencies.
A dependable energy source is essential for smooth business operations, ensuring food safety while preventing downtimes and profit loss. To prepare your restaurant or grocery store for power outages, invest in reliable, heavy-duty backup generators from Thompson Power Systems. We carry a vast inventory of commercial backup generators, such as diesel-powered, gas-powered and mobile generators. If you need a temporary grocery store or restaurant generator, we also provide rental power equipment to keep your business up and running.
Thompson Power Systems is your trusted critical power solutions provider with over six decades of expertise in the industry. We serve clients throughout Alabama and Northwest Florida, offering superior-quality Cat® power systems that suit your property and operational needs. We also provide ongoing expert support for as long as you own your power system.
Contact us online today and request a consultation. Trust us to secure a reliable backup generator for your business.
