Berkeley, CA — Berkeley's Sun Light & Power has installed a solar thermal system at The Cheesecake Factory at the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton, Calif. Solar thermal is well suited for restaurant operations due to their significant hot water consumption needs — and solar thermal significantly reduces a restaurant's energy bills for the heating of water. The solar thermal collectors will provide long term energy savings as well as help The Cheesecake Factory realize its goals of being even more sustainable and responsible to the environment.

Restaurants consume large quantities of hot water, primarily for washing dishes and cleaning purposes. The Cheesecake Factory system includes 20 Heliodyne Gobi 410 collectors that will reduce the estimated annual CO2 produced by the restaurant by 58,112 pounds. The solar water heating system is saving 9.52 therms per day. The solar thermal system is currently offsetting 15% of the hot water load and is expected to save the restaurant approximately $2,355 per year in energy (natural gas) costs.

The Cheesecake Factory, with close to 170 locations, is an upscale casual dining concept. For more information, visit www.thecheesecakefactory.com.

Sun Light & Power is a design/build solar firm based in Berkeley, Calif., with 36 years of leadership in alternative energy systems and innovative designs for homes and businesses. For more information, visit www.sunlightandpower.com.