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When it comes to operating a profitable restaurant chain, energy costs have historically been lower on the priority list than food costs, wages, and real estate. Nevertheless, industry leaders say brands can reduce expenses long-term without dramatically changing the customer experience by investing in energy-efficient programs. &#8220;If you are the person in the room that cares least about the environment, do it for your own bottom line. It is just responsible business in 2016,&#8221; says Michael Oshman, the founder and executive director of the national Green Restaurant Association, a nonprofit providing research and education to restaurants wishing to &#8220;go green.&#8221; Corporate leadership at Sonic Drive-In began heeding this type of financial advice a few years ago, when several franchisees across the U.S. reported significant reductions in energy costs after installing solar panels on the roofs of their drive-ins. To test the claims, the burger chain spent some $80,000 to have 90 solar panels installed on one of its corporate-owned restaurants in San Antonio in late 2015. The project earned a 50 percent solar rebate from local utility provider CPS Energy and a 30 percent federal tax credit. <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/finance/playing-long-game?utm_campaign=20160624&amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3Butm_source=jolt&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=qsr-magazine-energy-efficient-programs-help-brands-save-money-in-the-long-run-5066" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read the full QSR Magazine article.

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Some restaurants are swapping out fluorescents for LED lights and investing in solar panels in an effort to go green.

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QSR Magazine: Energy-Efficient Programs Help Brands Save Money In The Long Run

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QSR Magazine: Energy-Efficient Programs Help Brands Save Money In The Long Run

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