Chain restaurant efficiency

Tin Cup Bar and Grill

How outdated lighting and demand-control systems were costing this Burlington restaurant comfort and cash — and how RecessD fixed it in one retrofit.

32%

Utility cost reduction, first month

$1,300

Monthly savings

Month expected payback

The challenge

Drafts, guesswork, and a decade-old demand control system.

The restaurant faced persistent temperature fluctuations, drafts, and uncomfortable seating areas during cold weather. Their HVAC service provider prioritized parts sales over solutions, and utility expenses were accepted as unavoidable. An 8-year-old lighting control system required manual operation via remote control and depended on staff to adjust settings throughout the day. A Demand Control system installed in 2010 failed to meaningfully reduce utility costs.

The installation

A full controls retrofit, inspired by a competitor.

After observing RecessD technology at a competing restaurant and recognizing outdated building controls, management contracted RecessD for a full upgrade:

12 dimmers and switches (indoor and outdoor lighting) replaced with RecessD models
Two thermostats upgraded to RecessD units
Demand Control system updated with RecessD management
Old timer controls replaced with RecessD systems
HVAC fresh air settings adjusted and airflow balanced

The results

Comfort restored, costs down 32% in month one.

Proper HVAC adjustment and exhaust/makeup air control eliminated drafts, cold table zones, and temperature inconsistencies. Lighting now adjusts automatically throughout operating hours without manual intervention — evening dimming and outdoor signage lighting adapt daily based on sunset timing. The updated Demand Control system minimizes exhaust and makeup air needs at different times of day, while an override switch gives staff manual control for unexpected high cooking volume.

Utility costs decreased 32% in the first full month of operation — $1,300 in monthly savings compared to the two-year average — with an expected payback period of 9 months.

“I should have done this a long time ago.”
— John Strategis, Owner

What’s next

Rolling out across the group.

Since this installation, the owner has expanded RecessD to the Oakville Tin Cup location and Rust Bistro in Burlington, and specified it for a new Tin Cup location opening in Ancaster.

Could your building be next?

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