24-Location Restaurant Energy Savings Case Study
Controls and lighting improvements reduce electricity use by 18.6%
GWT2Energy helped a 24-location quick-service restaurant portfolio reduce electricity consumption through a coordinated program focused on building controls, operating schedules, lighting, and ongoing performance review.
Results at a glance
- $110,859.68 in calculated annual electricity savings, based on 2025 calculations
- 18.6% reduction in electricity consumption
- 24 restaurant locations included
- Approximately $4,619 in annual savings per location
The challenge
Managing energy across multiple restaurants is more complicated than identifying inefficient equipment. Each location has different operating hours, weather conditions, equipment, maintenance history, utility rates, and management practices. HVAC or lighting schedules can drift, overrides can remain active, and equipment may operate unnecessarily after closing.
The restaurant operator needed a portfolio-wide approach that could identify recurring waste, correct operating problems, and verify whether the changes produced real savings.
GWT2Energy’s approach
GWT2Energy reviewed energy performance across the restaurant portfolio and coordinated improvements in several areas:
- HVAC control settings and operating schedules
- After-hours HVAC operation
- Interior and exterior lighting schedules
- Control-system programming and overrides
- Location-level energy-use exceptions
- Follow-up and performance verification
The objective was not simply to install technology. It was to ensure that controls, equipment schedules, and restaurant operations continued working together after implementation.
Results
The 24 participating restaurants achieved $110,859.68 in calculated annual electricity savings, based on 2025 calculations, representing an 18.6% reduction in electricity consumption.
Because the improvements were implemented across multiple locations, the program also gave the restaurant operator a repeatable process for managing schedules, identifying exceptions, and maintaining savings over time.
Why this matters for restaurant chains
Multi-location restaurant operators frequently have energy-management systems, programmable controls, or efficient equipment already in place. The remaining opportunity often comes from finding where those systems are not operating as intended.
Common examples include:
- HVAC equipment starting too early or running after closing
- Temporary thermostat overrides that remain active
- Interior, exterior, or signage lighting operating outside approved hours
- Control schedules that no longer match restaurant hours
- One location consuming substantially more energy than comparable restaurants
- Corrective work being completed without confirming that energy use returned to normal
An outsourced energy-management partner can take responsibility for reviewing these exceptions, coordinating corrections, and confirming results without adding another daily task for restaurant managers.
About GWT2Energy
GWT2Energy provides outsourced energy management for multi-location restaurant and retail organizations. Services include utility-cost analysis, location benchmarking, energy procurement support, building controls, lighting and equipment projects, incentive support, ongoing monitoring, and performance reporting.
GWT2Energy works as an extension of facilities, finance, and operations teams—helping clients turn utility information and building-system data into practical actions.
Discuss your restaurant portfolio
If you manage multiple restaurant locations and want to identify unnecessary energy costs without increasing store-manager workload, GWT2Energy can review your current utility data, controls, and operating process.