Nando's rolls out kitchen heat recycling system
Nando's is to roll out an energy recycling scheme across its entire restaurant estate following a successful trial.
The system, created by Lancashire firm Dext Heat Recovery, uses waste heat from kitchens to keep the restaurant building warm and its water hot.
A heat exchange box on the roof filters and recycles heat rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.
The success of a year-long trial in 14 Nando's restaurants means the system will now be rolled out across its 475 sites.
Sam McCarthy, head of sustainability for Nando's UK and Ireland, said: "Recovering heat in this way is a no brainer, it's good for the environment, it saves energy, and it all happens in the background, we don't need our customers or colleagues to do anything differently."
Neil Bracewell, director of Dext Heat Recovery, told the BBC the prices of its systems started at around £20,000 but said operators could make this back in 18 months depending on the size and use of their kitchens.
Dext Heat Recovery began working with Nando's in 2009 on a heat recovery plate that could be installed close to cookers and grills and doubled as a splashback panel.
It absorbed waste heat and transferred it into a sealed water circuit which was used to provide hot water for the kitchen.
Nando's claims to have been carbon neutral since November 2021 and said the carbon footprint of its meals had reduced by 40% since 2015.
Each restaurant partners with a local charity and the chain has donated more than three million meals over the last 10 years through its ‘No Chuckin' Our Chicken' initiative.
"We have a net zero target of 2030 and this new technology is proving to be a success, reducing the impact on the planet and enabling us to invest in the future of our restaurants," said McCarthy.
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