Team Power Smart

candlelight conseRvation dinneR DinneR by canDLeLight FoR the FiFth yeaR in a Row, Power Smart is partnering with more than 100 restaurants across the province to host a fun night of special deals, unique menus and the ambience of candlelight. On October 24, restaurants participating in the Candlelight Conservation Dinner will dim the lights in a symbolic gesture and as a fun reminder of how easy it can be to save energy – something as simple as turning off the lights. Le's FamiLy RestauRant Dawson Creek Participating in the Candlelight Conservation Dinner for the third year in a row is Le's Family Restaurant, a homestyle eatery serving up comfort food and a friendly service in Dawson Creek. Dimming the lights in the dining room and serving up a special menu, restaurant manager Tri Nguyen says it's a popular event for both patrons and staff. "The menu will be a little fancier than usual, and there's a little more of a fine dining ambience rather than our usual family restaurant setting," says Nguyen. "It really slows down the pace of things, and I enjoy that." He adds that the Candlelight Conservation Dinner has saved them more than just one evening's worth of energy. "We have a lot of lighting up front and consume a lot of energy, so the savings help, but it's really about creating awareness." Not only does it remind customers to turn out the lights when they're at home, but it prompted Le's Family 46 Restaurant to go even further in its efforts to reduce consumption. The restaurant is now in the process of switching to LED bulbs, sourcing environmentally-friendly takeout containers and developing an overall sustainability program. the PeaR tRee RestauRant BurnaBy A newcomer to the event, The Pear Tree Restaurant in Burnaby is looking forward to the Candlelight Conservation Dinner festivities with a special low-energy-consumptionthemed dinner menu. "We're looking at all the ways we can reduce energy use on the night, from dimming the lights to using preserves," says owner/manager Stephanie Jaeger. "Right now we're pickling some lovely local beets, so perhaps we'll have a nice beet salad on the menu." The cosy, continental-style restaurant began its energy-saving journey earlier this summer by participating in BC Hydro's Small 14 team power smart FALL olumbia Magazine • fa ll 2013 B r itish C 2013 stephanie Jaegar: the pear tree restaurant is committed to reducing wasted power. tri nguyen: Le's Family restaurant is taking part in the event for the third year. Business Energy Challenge, battling another local company to see who could achieve the most energy savings over a two-month period. "As a restaurant, we're aware that we consume a lot," says Jaeger, noting that long hours and energy-intensive operations make for hefty hydro bills. "We're just focusing on where we're wasting power and how we can reduce that." Small but effective changes have included breaking the habit of turning on all the lights and equipment as soon as the staff arrives for the day, instead leaving the dining room lights off until the servers arrive and keeping various kitchen appliances off until they're needed. The Pear Tree has also switched over to all LED lighting. For a full list of restaurants taking part in the Candleight Conservation Dinner visit powersmart.ca/candlelight

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