Energy-thrift opportunities for operators of [`]public houses' in the UK

Means for reducing the annual energy consumption in the UK's stock of approximately 8 x 104 [`]public houses' (i.e. premises in which alcoholic beverages are purchased by the glass) are reviewed. As many of these public houses are more than 100 years old (some having been built in the Middle Ages), energy engineers face unusual difficulties when attempting to improve the energy efficiencies of such buildings and the activities undertaken therein. Furthermore, the energy requirements of these [`]pubs' are expected to increase significantly because: (i) they are playing an increasingly important societal role as food-service outlets; (ii) demands from users for better levels of air quality within such establishments are increasing; and (iii) the legal operating hours of pubs in England and Wales are soon to be extended, from a lunchtime and an evening period of 3·5 and 6 h per day respectively, to a single period of at least 12 h per day. Therefore, a more detailed consideration of energy utilisation in the public-house sector appears timely.