Dive Brief:
- Budderfly is deploying its energy-as-a-service model at Craveworthy Brands’ corporate- and franchise-owned restaurants to reduce energy consumption and improve building environments, according to a Tuesday news release.
- As part of the agreement, Budderfly will provide its services to 21 Genghis Grill corporate-owned restaurants and 11 franchise locations over time, generating an estimated 30% reduction in energy use at each site. The offering will include installing, monitoring and managing high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting fixtures, refrigeration controls and water conservation systems at no upfront cost, Budderfly said.
- Cost-savings and sustainability outcomes from this effort will set a new benchmark for sustainability across the approximately 200 additional current and planned restaurant locations within the Craveworthy brand umbrella, and add to Budderfly’s portfolio of over 6,000 customer sites, including restaurants, retail centers, schools and healthcare facilities.
Dive Insight:
One of the fastest growing energy-as-a-service companies in the U.S., Budderfly added approximately 843 customer sites to its portfolio of sustainable restaurants and reported a 200% year-over-year increase in bookings in the first half of 2023. Through its EaaS model, Budderfly assumes responsibility for its clients’ utility spending and the capital risk of improvements that reduce energy consumption. It earns revenue through a share of energy cost savings resulting from these upgrades.
Craveworthy Brands is a restaurant hospitality platform that provides brands with business operation solutions and advisory services to support sustainable innovation, according to the release. The company’s owned brands include Wing It On!, The Budlong, Krafted Burger + Tap, BD’s Mongolian Grill, Flat Top Grill, Lucky Cat Poke Co., Pastizza, Genghis Grill and more.
In addition to HVAC and lighting upgrades, Budderfly will provide smart panels, sensors and water conservation systems, such as smart valves, low-flow toilets and foot pedal sinks, at no upfront cost, to reduce energy and water consumption, per the release. These upgrades, alongside Budderfly’s “in-house expertise and growing tech-enabled capabilities will drive maximized and long-term positive outcomes for Craveworthy Brands restaurant locations over a 10-year period,” the company said.
“Food service buildings, such as quick service and fast casual restaurants, are among the most energy-intensive commercial building types, subjecting franchise owners to sky-high electricity bills and a significant carbon footprint,” Budderfly Founder and CEO Al Subbloie said in the release.
Budderfly recently launched a pilot that involved deploying its proprietary HVAC system at UConn Health’s Child Care Center building in Farmington, Connecticut to showcase the commercial viability and energy conservation capabilities of its all-electric HVAC system for government entities and agencies. The Shelton, Connecticut-based firm was also named as a partner for the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator program, which aims to help manufacturers develop heat pumps that can replace less efficient rooftop heating and cooling systems.
