Water heaters play a crucial role for restaurants in maintaining high sanitation standards, delivering comforting hot water for cooking, cleaning, and providing a pleasant dining experience. However, amidst the busyness of the food industry, the environmental impact of water heaters often goes overlooked. As the world faces pressing environmental challenges, restaurants need to recognize the significance of their water heating systems and adopt sustainable alternatives to lessen their impact on the planet.

Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint

For restaurants, where a steady supply of hot water is essential, water heaters can consume vast amounts of energy, especially when powered by non-renewable sources like natural gas or electricity generated from coal. This heavy reliance on traditional energy sources results in substantial greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and its adverse effects on the environment.

Water Conservation

Water is a valuable resource in any restaurant, and water heaters play a pivotal role in delivering hot water for various kitchen tasks and customer needs. However, traditional tank water heaters may lead to unnecessary water wastage due to standby heat loss and inefficient heating processes. Proper maintenance is one way that restaurants can ensure their water heaters are performing as efficiently as possible and identify any issues that may arise. This can also increase the life of the water heater which can save money and waste from disposal.

Responsible Disposal of Old Units

When it's time to replace an old water heater, restaurants must be mindful of proper disposal practices. Older models often contain hazardous materials like lead and mercury, posing a threat to the environment if not recycled or disposed of responsibly.

To ensure eco-friendly disposal, restaurants can collaborate with recycling programs or reach out to water heater manufacturers that offer take-back initiatives for old units. By participating in responsible disposal, the restaurant industry can contribute to reducing electronic waste.

Embracing Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

The environmental impact of water heaters extends beyond their operational phase. The production and extraction of raw materials for manufacturing water heaters contribute to pollution and resource depletion. Restaurants can prioritize purchasing water heaters from manufacturers committed to sustainable practices. Choosing products with eco-friendly certifications, like Energy Star, can signify a dedication to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. Supporting brands that uphold green manufacturing principles can encourage the industry to move toward a more sustainable direction.

What is Mountain Burger Doing?

Like all restaurants, water heaters are essential for Mountain Burger to maintain safe practices, efficient service, and high-quality meals. However, their environmental impact cannot be ignored. Mountain Burger uses a Bradford White brand Eco-Magnum Series Ultra High-Efficiency water heater. Although it does run on natural gas, its efficiency helps minimize the impact. The next time we need a water heater, an electric and tankless water heater will be prioritized. A tankless water heater helps save precious space in a restaurant and reduces the amount of wasted water by producing water on demand. An electric water heater will also increase safety as onsite combustion is not necessary which can be harmful to human health. 

We continue to learn on our journey to becoming net zero and are dedicated to helping you dine sustainably.