---
title: "QSR Magazine: Energy-Efficient Programs Help Brands Save Money In The Long Run"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/59a74948-efda-461b-9303-491d28983043
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-energy-efficient-programs-help-brands-save-money-in-the-long-run-5066
category: "QSR"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "QSR"
published: 2016-06-28T14:09:24.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:36:13.823Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/b0df68331cfd6ed3564498de978910b78706160628090824.jpg
---

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

**TL;DR:** Energy-efficient programs can help restaurant chains reduce expenses long-term without dramatically changing the customer experience. Sonic Drive-In invested in solar panels and earned a 50 percent solar rebate and a 30 percent federal tax credit.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2016-06-28. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-energy-efficient-programs-help-brands-save-money-in-the-long-run-5066).*

## Story

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.

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.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- Sonic Drive-In (company)
- cost savings (topic)
- energy efficiency (topic)
- solar panels (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-energy-efficient-programs-help-brands-save-money-in-the-long-run-5066). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/59a74948-efda-461b-9303-491d28983043).