McDonald’s To Launch Energy-Saving Monitoring System

The Wall Street Journal:

In a move to squeeze waste out of its energy use, McDonald’s Corp. today will announce an effort to use a networking system to more efficiently monitor and control everything from fryers, grills and milk-shake machines to air conditioners and lights.

The move is part of a trend among companies aiming to curb energy use. The question of how much benefit McDonald’s can realize won’t be answered for some time, as the Oak Brook, Ill., company plans gradual implementation. Commercial-power prices rose nearly 23% last year from 2000 prices, according to the Department of Labor, and companies acknowledge growing political…