Practical energy lessons for hospitality businesses
For cafés, restaurants and accommodation providers, energy is a significant operating cost – from refrigeration and cooking to hot water, heating and cooling. Smarter energy choices can mean real savings.
Following Mission Zero’s The Energy Future for Hospitality event in May, we’ve pulled together some of the key takeaways shared by local energy and industry experts.
Start with what you’ve got
Before spending big, understand where your energy is going and make sure your existing equipment is working efficiently.
Some easy places to start:
- Clean refrigeration, ventilation and heat-pump filters.
- Check fridge and freezer seals and temperatures.
- Fix leaking taps and hot-water pipes.
- Draught-proof doors and windows.
- Switch off lighting, signage and equipment when not needed.
- Use timers and sensors where appropriate.
- Create a simple end-of-day shutdown routine.
Small changes across equipment that operates every day can add up.
Make your next replacement count
Hospitality equipment works hard. When refrigeration, cooking equipment, hot water, heating or vehicles need replacing, don’t automatically replace like-for-like.
Look at the lifetime running cost, not just the purchase price. More efficient refrigeration, electric cooking, heat-pump hot water, solar and EVs can cost more upfront but reduce ongoing energy costs.
Planning before something breaks gives you time to compare options, get quotes and investigate finance.
Look at the whole system
Energy choices can have wider benefits too. Gas cooking, for example, adds heat to a kitchen and can increase ventilation, extraction and cooling requirements.
Likewise, insulation can reduce heating and cooling demand, while solar can offset electricity used across multiple parts of the business.
Think beyond the individual appliance and consider how your building and equipment work together.
Leasing? Talk to your landlord
Tenants can still make plenty of improvements themselves, but larger upgrades such as insulation, glazing, heating, hot water and solar may require your landlord.
Start the conversation early. Lower running costs benefit the tenant, while improvements can add value to the property.
Get help with the bigger moves
Finance and expert advice can make larger projects easier to tackle.
Local support: Mission Zero | Absolute Energy | Current Generation | NCC Climate Change Grants | Ekos | Electrify Nelson
Useful resources: MoneyHub green loans | Hospitality NZ Sustainability Hub | Moffat | BNZ Green Business Loans | Swap One
Or explore the options in person at the Electrify Nelson Expo, 29 August at Annesbrook Event Centre.
Thanks to our contributors
A big thank you to the experts who shared their knowledge at The Energy Future for Hospitality: Suzy Giles (Giles Global), Adam Burwell (Current Generation Solar / Electrify Nelson), Ben Corlett (Moffat), Daniela Ramirez (Nelson City Council), David Morrison (Southern Hospitality), Josh Leenhouwers (Ekos), Paul Brockie (Absolute Energy) and Tristan Wastney (BNZ).
Thanks also to the hospitality businesses who joined the conversation and shared their own experiences.
A huge thank you to the event’s funders and our ongoing supporters:
