NRA, Constellation offer energy program

The National Restaurant Association and Constellation Energy are partnering to offer restaurateurs in Illinois access to cost-effective alternative energy sources.

Currently, members of the Illinois Restaurant Association are eligible to participate in the offer, which is part of a pilot program in that state. If it is successful, the NRA and Constellation, a Baltimore-based supplier of power, natural gas, renewable energy and energy management products for homes and businesses, will expand the offer to additional areas.

“Energy is one of the top five expenses for many operators, so our goal is to help ease that burden for restaurateurs so they can better control costs and be more efficient economically and environmentally,” said Scott DeFife, the NRA’s executive vice president of policy and government affairs. “We are pleased that through this program we will be able to help our members not only reduce their energy spending, but also show them easy steps on how to save on energy usage. This is good for their businesses and good for their communities.”

Michael Wajsgras, Constellation’s vice president of channel development, agreed with DeFife, saying the combination of a competitive price, renewable options and enhanced efficiency would allow restaurateurs to improve their operating and environmental performance.

"Our competitive prices and array of energy-efficient options can help restaurant operators customize a strategy to help manage their energy costs," Wajsgras said. “We believe restaurateurs should evaluate their energy costs frequently and make sure their strategies for managing those costs align with their operating plans.”

Wajsgras said that operators participating in the plan would be able to:

Keep energy expenditures in check and free up capital for investment

Achieve environmental goals and remain competitive

Have enough capital to invest in energy efficient practices and show return on investment

He further noted that Constellation’s Efficiency Made Easy initiative, a loan program that assists businesses in upgrading their equipment, also would be helpful to restaurateurs looking to make their stores more energy efficient. According to Wajsgras, qualifying restaurants can take on projects, such as upgrading their lighting to include Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs, at no upfront cost. Instead, the operator pays back the loan via his or her energy bill each month.