Kiana Caban

Provided by California Energy Wise (CEW), PG&E, Frontier Energy - Food Service Tech Center 2.0 CEU available The restaurant industry is one of the most challenging business sectors. Restaurant owners in California must deal with new regulations, a challenging labor market, and rising food, utility, and real estate costs. In 2024, operators will need to remain fast, flexible, and cost conscious in order to survive and flourish. The economic drivers for the industry will include gas prices, food delivery, consumer confidence, the recovering supply chain, and the challenge of finding adequate labor. High-output, energy-efficient, kitchen equipment and smart facility design are more important than ever for restaurant profitability. Join our guest speakers, Richard Young from Frontier Energy, Robin Ashton from Ashton Foodservice Consulting & the Ashton Report and Jot Condie, President and CEO of the California Restaurant Association as they discuss trends, innovations and the future state of our industry. Participants will be able to: Discuss National trends in the restaurant industry related to equipment and operations. Understand national and international market and growth trends are driving and shaping the food service industry. Utilize utility programs, services, and rebates for qualified energy-efficient equipment Speakers:  Richard Young, Director of Education, Frontier […]

Provided by California Energy Wise (CEW), PG&E, Frontier Energy - Food Tech Service Center 1.5 CEU available The California Energy Commission is currently pursuing many programs which are aimed at decarbonizing our energy infrastructure including all-electric cooking, space heating and water heating. The commercial foodservice industry has started to adopt efficient electric cooking equipment as the first step towards all-electric, zero net carbon kitchens. This class explains how the foodservice industry can take the most important next step towards zero carbon by addressing one of the biggest barriers: How to replace the traditional gas-fired hot water systems with electric heat pump water heaters. Learn how heat-recovery dishmachines, effective plumbing design, and decentralized, point-of-use water heating are necessary to make heat pump water heaters perform effectively in the demanding commercial kitchen environment. Participants will be able to: Describe the water and energy savings associated with heat recovery dishmachines. Understand the benefits of using heat pump water heaters in commercial foodservice. Understand how heat recovery dishmachines and heat pump water heaters can make each other cost effective. Speakers: Richard Young, Director of Education, Frontier Energy’s, Food Service Tech Center Daniel LaCommare, Engineer I, Frontier Energy's, Food Service Tech Center To register, contact […]

Provided by California Energy Wise (CEW), PG&E, Frontier Energy - Food Tech Service Center 1.5 CEU available This class covers two different commercial kitchen challenges: high heat environments and the many kitchen water wasters that can be readily fixed. The first half explains the newly adopted CalOSHA Indoor Heat Illness regulations. These regulations are meant to protect kitchen workers but, they also apply to equipment service professionals who might be working in those kitchens. Learn the details of these new regulations, how to help operators lower kitchen temperatures, and how to come into compliance with these laws. Likewise, new California laws require that all water utilities follow strict conservation guidelines in both dry and wet years - which could impact water costs. This class will provide training on how to spot and mitigate common water-wasting leaks and wasteful operating practices in kitchens and dishrooms. Participants will be able to: Appraise an employee's indoor heat illness risk and communicate a plan to come into compliance with the CalOSHA Indoor Heat Illness regulations, Explain how to reduce the ambient heat in a kitchen environment through equipment choice and ventilation optimization, and Employ corrective techniques to reduce water waste in commercial kitchens and […]

Provided by California Energy Wise (CEW), PG&E, Frontier Energy - Food Tech Service Center 1.5 CEU available This class will start with a broad overview of all the commercial induction cooking and holding products that are either available in the marketplace or know to be in development. From small countertop single hob units to full-size induction woks and ranges, there is a lot if activity from manufacturers. Next, the class will discuss when and why an operation would need to choose more heavy duty, high-input, induction products versus the lighter duty, lower-input units. Chef Mark will demonstrate several induction technologies, illustrating the advantages of induction cooking and holding using several different food types and cooking techniques. Learn how induction technologies will lower operating costs and help create the kitchen of the future and find out how to get utility rebates for purchasing induction equipment. Participants will be able to: Describe the various induction technologies available for commercial kitchen operations Understand what type of induction equipment is best suited for their menu choices and kitchen operations. Take advantage of utility programs and rebates that will help lower the cost of implementing induction cooking in their kitchens. Speakers: Mark Duesler, Program Manager, […]

Provided by California Energy Wise (CEW), PG&E, Frontier Energy - Food Tech Service Center 1.5 CEU available Meeting food safety requirements and regulations in restaurants is the highest priority of any operating kitchen. Many new pieces of equipment are designed with programmable, web-connected systems that are designed to help operators implement proper HACCP compliance - including reducing food handling and generating automated reporting. Learn about these new pieces of cooking, holding, and refrigeration equipment and find out how they save energy and reduce labor while simultaneously increasing food safety and HAACP compliance in commercial kitchens. Participants will be able to: Implement food safety staff training and operating procedures. Utilize programmable and IoT-ready foodservice equipment to ensure food safety and code compliance. Utilize utility programs and services to identify efficient, high-tech equipment that promotes food safety, and take advantage of utility rebates for qualified energy-efficient equipment. Speakers: Mark Duesler, Program Manager, Frontier Energy’s Food Service Tech Center To register, contact Kiana Caban, kcaban@frontierenergy.com or 925.866.2844

Provided by California Energy Wise (CEW), PG&E, Frontier Energy - Food Tech Service Center 1.5 CEU available This presentation will review the latest U.S. federal and California state refrigerant regulations and the prescribed phase-down schedules for high-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerant gases used in small commercial HVAC and refrigeration systems that are typically found in restaurants. Low-GWP alternative gases and systems (Class A2L and A3) and the associated energy implications will be discussed. Participants will be able to: Specify refrigeration and HVAC equipment that will be in compliance with State and Federal refrigerant and energy efficiency regulations. Specify equipment that uses the most current adopted low-GWP refrigerants. Use no-cost, online, utility resources to locate energy efficient refrigeration equipment, calculate ROI, and receive incentives under the CA Energy Wise Instant Rebates program. Speakers: Angelo Karas, Senior Lab Technician, Frontier Energy’s Food Service Tech Center To register, contact Kiana Caban, kcaban@frontierenergy.com or 925.866.2844