Ovens are one of the biggest energy drains in any bakery, and there’s no escaping it. Energy costs associated with oven use and other electrical equipment seem like sunk costs. However, switching from a regular oven to an energy-efficient model, such as a deck oven or an electric deck oven, can save a bakery thousands of dollars.

Empire Deck Ovens save your bakery up to 70% on your energy bill. That translates into thousands of dollars in savings, depending on your bakery’s volume, without sacrificing quality—and without changing anything except the kind of oven you're using.

Let’s break down how an energy-efficient deck oven can save you money and time.

What Makes an Oven Energy-Efficient?

A few factors make an oven energy-efficient. When an oven loses heat, it needs to compensate by using more energy to get back up to optimal temperature. Having an oven that can retain and conserve heat is key to saving energy.

So look for ovens that:

  • Are well-insulated—insulation keeps heat in the oven
  • Have precise temperature controls
  • Can recover heat faster between batches
  • Have zone or independent heating for baking different items at the same time

If your oven can’t hold heat, recover quickly, or maintain consistent temperatures, you’ll use—and pay for—more energy and waste product. Bakers also have to wait longer for ovens to heat up, which means they lose time and ultimately lead to losing lose money.

How Deck Ovens Save Energy

Deck ovens, especially modern electric deck ovens, can significantly reduce operating costs. But how?

A deck oven maintains a steady and even heat throughout the baking chamber which offers a quality and consistent bake. Within each baking chamber are artisan-quality baking stones that hold heat better and longer, allowing your oven to conserve energy. 

Having multiple decks allows bakeries to bake larger loads, bake a variety of different products at once, or rotate the decks so that temperature loss is never an issue. 

You’ll most often see deck ovens in bread bakeries or, as the example above shows, pizza spots, where repeatable results are critical. They’re especially key for bakeries making artisan breads like sourdoughs, where a nice dark crumb is needed.

But because they’re built for efficiency, they’re a wise choice for just about any bakery.

What’s the Difference Between a Traditional Deck Oven and an Electric Deck Oven?

Deck Ovens are offered in gas or electric versions, depending on a bakery's needs. Both are capable of baking extremely high-quality breads, with each having its own pros and cons. 

Gas ovens tend to heat up quicker than electric, meaning they can usually recover faster than an electric oven. Electric ovens, on the other hand, tend to be more accurate when it comes to temperature, allowing them to bake at a more consistent level. Although gas ovens are accurate in their own right. Gas ovens are a bit cheaper to operate and Empire ovens allow you to save up to 75% on your utility bill, while electric ovens can save you money on not needing any ventilation installed. 

How An Energy-Efficient Deck Oven Saves Money

Energy-efficient deck ovens can impact your energy bill from the get-go. Say you’re running your oven for about ten hours a day, six days a week. Of course, this depends on your local electricity rates, but with a non-energy-efficient model, your bill could run about $600 a month. With an energy-efficient model, you can cut that bill down to $400.

Over time, the savings add up ($2,400 a year). This equation accounts for only one oven; if you have two or more, the savings pile up.

This equation also only conveys the energy savings you might see. Having an energy-efficient oven improves heat consistency and reduces downtime, meaning more consistent bakes, less time waiting for the oven to recover, and fewer disruptions during a busy production day.

Upgrading to an energy-efficient deck oven, especially an electric model, can save bakeries thousands per year while improving consistency and workflow.
It’s no secret that energy costs are rising, so consider upgrading now: check out Empire’s line of deck ovens and electric deck ovens and start saving today.