Cha Fan x Champion Group | Case Study Featured in an HKGBC Guide

Heat recovery energy-saving dishwasher replacement plan

F&B Industry

Project Background

Cha Fan Catering Ltd. ("Cha Fan") is a local restaurant business. The branches described in the guide had approximately 100 seats each. Champion Group International Limited (Champion Group) served as consultant and contractor for Cha Fan's dishwasher replacement project, introducing heat-recovery dishwashers and comparing energy-monitoring data before and after replacement. The project appears as Case 23, pp. 84–85, in the Chinese edition of the Hong Kong Green Building Council's building-retrofitting guide. The Council published the guide; inclusion does not constitute product certification or endorsement.

Goals of the replacement program

Replace traditional equipment with Champion energy-saving dishwashers to reduce electricity and water consumption
– Traditional dishwashers consume an average of over 20,000 kWh of electricity per year, resulting in high operating costs
– Each dishwashing session uses an average of 2–2.5L of water, a serious waste of resources
Introducing smart energy monitoring tools
Quantifying the practical benefits of heat recovery technology in local catering scenarios
Support ESG reporting requirements and enhance transparency of environmental performance
– Commercial dishwashers in Hong Kong do not have energy labels, making it difficult to compare performance

Champion Group
Highlights of the replacement program

1. Replace traditional equipment with patented heat recovery dishwashers to reduce power and water consumption

Recover steam and waste heat inside the dishwasher
Increase the water inlet temperature from 25°C to 50–60°C
Finally heated to above 82℃ (completed by hot water boiler)
Reduce electricity required for heating and improve energy efficiency
Save water

Dishwasher Type	Water consumption per wash rack
Traditional dishwasher	2–2.5L
CHAMPION Heat Recovery Dishwasher	1–1.5 L

2. Introducing smart energy monitoring tools for on-site installation, testing, and data collection

Wireless Installation
No need to change the power system
Real-time monitoring of dishwasher power consumption and recording of real-time energy data

3. Quantify the practical benefits of heat recovery technology in local catering scenarios

On-site testing of operating data at Cha Fan
Verify the effectiveness of the heat recovery system

4. Support ESG reporting requirements and enhance transparency of environmental performance

Provide energy usage data before and after equipment replacement to support ESG disclosure
Resolving the assessment difficulties of commercial dishwashers without energy labels in Hong Kong
Assist users to report energy-saving achievements to the company or stakeholders

Performance data

cost		Excellence in Energy Saving Performance
Total cost	HK$1,200/month	Total annual cost savings	HK$27,000 (HK$2,250/month)
Cost Details	Dishwasher rental HK$ 1,200/month	Annual cost savings breakdown	1. Energy savings per hour: 4.01 kWh
			2. Annual operating hours: 4,153.7 hours (11.38 hours/day × 365 days)
			3. Annual electricity savings: 16,656 kWh (4.01 kWh × 4,153.7 hours)
			4. Annual electricity savings: HK$$27,316 (16,656 kWh × HK$1.64)
			5. Annual carbon emissions reduction: 6,496 kg CO₂ (16,656 kWh × 0.39)
Payback period		Immediately (energy saving benefits have covered equipment rental)

Summarize

Cha Fan worked with Champion Group on a heat-recovery dishwasher replacement project, with operating and energy data compared on site before and after replacement. Case 23, pp. 84–85, in the Chinese edition of the Hong Kong Green Building Council's building-retrofitting guide documents the project's energy, carbon and cost benefits and identifies Champion Group International Limited as consultant and contractor. These are historical results for this particular project, not a guarantee for every model, site or current price. Inclusion in the guide does not constitute product certification or endorsement by the Council.