Raul Dominguez, a Wendy’s franchise owner in south Florida, was grappling with the escalating cost of energy. The need to manage energy use and operational expense was a pressing issue for Dominguez and other franchisees in the region. Quick-serve restaurants, especially those located in warm climates like South Florida, consume a significant amount of energy. These establishments face unique challenges, including high-temperature broilers and other cooking equipment that generate substantial heat, commercial-grade refrigeration for safe food storage, and robust HVAC systems to ensure a comfortable customer experience. Dominguez, along with several other Wendy’s franchise owners participating in a regional council, volunteered to test various energy management strategies to address energy consumption, manual system overrides, and equipment monitoring.
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