Why should I go green? This is a question that many people ask simply because they do not know the facts about their impact on the environment. This blog will present you with some very disturbing facts about the environment; hopefully enough to convince you that going green is the only way to go.

Facts:

• American’s refrigerators use about 7% of the U.S.’ total electricity consumption - which is about the same amount put out by 25 large power plants.
• We throw away enough wood and paper each year to heat around 50 million homes for 20 years.
• CFC atoms take over 100 years to break down and become harmless once they reach the ozone layer.
• A single Styrofoam cup contains 1 billion billion (yes..that’s 2 billions) CFCs.
• Around 110 million Americans live in areas with pollution levels high enough for the government to consider them harmful.
• 16 tons of sewage are dropped in the United States’ water supply - every minute of every day.
• Americans throw away nearly 40 billion soft drink cans and bottles each year. That’s enough to reach to the moon & back nearly 20 times!
• Most American households do not recycle - although nearly 84% of typical waste could be.
• The average American home uses about 300 gallons of water daily.
• A single quart of motor oil can contaminate up to two million gallons of fresh water daily if disposed of improperly.

These are only a few facts about our impact on the environment. Imagine the difference if we all took the time to become a little more eco-friendly.

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If you aren’t already making every effort to save energy, you should be doing so in the very near future. As
financial incentives continue to grow, many of the efforts put forth to produce energy savings seem minimal. Here are a list of some of the easiest ways to become more energy-efficient:

• Search for the Energy Star® logo when you shop. Energy Star® rated products are always much better for the environment and will save you $ in the long run!
• Purchase accelerated cooking ovens whenever possible. Combi-ovens and microwave ovens are both energy-efficient appliances that substantially reduce cooking times.
• Use induction cooking. This popular cooking method is catching on quick thanks to it’s eco-friendly qualities.
• Inspect your appliances frequently. Monthly inspections should work just fine. If you don’t have time for monthly inspections, hire someone to perform this task for you, it may end up saving you the time and money it would take to fix a faulty appliance.
• Shut off appliances when you aren’t using them. Idling appliances are a major waste of energy.
• Check built-in equipment thermometers. By checking built-in equipment thermometers, you can greatly lessen the risk of excess heat loss due to thermometers that need need to be recalibrated.
• Install an instantaneous booster heater. However, make sure you turn it off at night, as booster heaters can dramatically increase the utility costs of a commercial kitchen if left on all night. Make sure to turn off all hot water before you leave. You will be surprised at the amount of savings you will see!
• Utilize natural light. By using as much natural lighting as possible, you will greatly reduce your utility bill.

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In 2006, American’s alone spent nearly $11 billion on bottled water, well over 8 billion gallons of it. After these billions of gallons of water were consumed, the real problem began…these bottles of water turned into trash in a landfill. Over 22 billion empty plastic bottles were thrown in the trash, creating a large amount of unnecessary plastic bottles in landfills across America. Excess garbage, however, isn’t the only problem. Plastic water bottles are created using oil, and tend to drain over 1.5 million barrels alone just in production.

One way to help combat this overuse of plastic is to stop asking for and purchasing bottled water. Although the sale and consumption of bottled water still seems to be on an upward trend, certain policymakers are taking strides to reduce the use of plastic water bottles. For example, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that bars city government from using city money to purchase bottled water to give to city employees. Newsom explains that this decision will save taxpayers money while helping out the planet.

The plastic used in a single use bottle of water can pose a high contamination threat not only to the environment, but to the individual as well. When plastic water bottles are frequently reused, harmful chemicals, such as DEHA, a possible human carcinogen, and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) can be excreted into the water. You are likely to get at least a few drinks of harmful bacteria with each bottle as well.

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1. Go Local

Buying local foods has numerous benefits, including reducing the amount of emissions given off by trucks that are used to haul foods from one location to another. Purchasing locally grown foods also supports the local economy, helping farmers to continue their trade.

2. Try Organic Foods

Organic foods are not only good for you, but they are also good for the environment. A healthy ecosystem must be used in order to create organic foods, which are safe from chemicals in the land, water, and air. For morei information on organic foods and their comparison to typically grown foods, check out KaTom Restaurant Supply’s blog about organic foods.

3. Purchase Fair Trade Foods

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Going green seems to be the trend in restaurants (and other businesses as well) as of late, and, for the good of our environment, we should all encourage its grown and staying power. Decreasing your negative impact on the environment is a great way to increase the likelihood of running a successful business. One way businesses, specifically restaurants, are reducing their environmental impact is to invest in “green” kitchen equipment. Eco-friendly commercial kitchen equipment will not only help the environment, but will help you as well by reducing energy costs (& utility bills!) satisfying consumer demand for environmentally-conscious businesses, and increasing productivity.

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Most people have heard the buzz surrounding green power, but many are not aware of exactly what “green” power is and why it is helpful for your business and the environment. Being informed about these issues will give you a better idea of how helpful being “green” can be. This article will take common questions about green power and answer them to educate you on the benefits of green power.

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One industry that will be greatly impacted by the impending global climate change is one we are nearly all quite fond of…the wine industry. For years, certain areas of the world, such as Napa Valley, have been well-known for producing great-tasting wine. These areas tend to have the exact weather needed to produce this high-quality wine. However, as the risk for increased global temperatures continues to rise, these areas are realizing the urgency of the situation. The increased temperatures will make it very difficult to produce the wine we are all so accustomed to.

In response to these growing concerns, wineries are coming together to do their part to help save the environment. A couple of weeks ago, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance announced more than 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions had been eliminated over the past 4 years, thanks to 359 energy saving projects that the state’s wineries are implementing. To put this number into perspective, 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide is about the same are removing 4,200 cars from rush-hour traffic. As great as these figures sound, there is more to sustainable wineries than just saving electricity. Sustainable wineries need to help protect and conserve the land and water they use as well.

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Buildings, specifically commercial buildings such as restaurants, tend to use more energy than nearly anything else in the United States. Commercial buildings consume approximately 36% of all energy and 65% of all electricity used in the U.S., states the Environmental Protection Agency. Considering the fact that energy consumption is one of the largest expenses a restaurant typically incurs, it is easy to see how large amounts of energy consumption can negatively effect both the environment and your business.

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Frymaster, a leading manufacturer of commercial deep fryers, has a wide variety of eco-friendly deep fryers available as well as the traditional models. Frymaster offers a full line of high-quality gas and electric fryers, with the addition of “green” fryers providing an option for the environmentally-concerned commercial business.

These amazing savings on “green” fryers are signifigant!

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