Overview
Melink Corporation teamed up with Darden Restaurants to bring Intelli-Hood® Demand Control Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) systems to 32 Olive Garden locations across the U.S. This large-scale initiative focused on boosting energy efficiency, reducing utility costs, and advancing Darden’s sustainability goals. To ensure the systems were performing at their best, Darden also implemented Melink’s Active Monitoring service—providing real-time performance verification and instant alerts for any operational issues.
Performance
Melink’s Intelli-Hood systems ensure commercial kitchens operate efficiently by modulating fan speeds correctly and providing immediate alerts for issues like VFD failures, schedule overrides, or human error. Active monitoring offers performance validation. With over 10,000 monitored days, the data showcased remarkable reliability, with an impressive 99.89% system uptime across 32 Olive Garden locations. This consistency delivered significant results for Darden Restaurants, including $245,854 in annual utility cost savings and a yearly reduction of 1,182,469 lbs of CO₂—equivalent to removing over 115 cars from the road.
Conclusion
Melink’s Active Monitoring is key to maximizing the long-term success of Intelli-Hood® systems. By providing real-time performance validation, it ensures optimal HVAC performance, prevents costly energy waste, and minimizes operational risks—all without requiring additional oversight. For customers like Darden Restaurants, this service not only protects their investment but also guarantees ongoing energy savings and sustainability benefits. With Intelli-Hood and Active Monitoring, businesses can achieve immediate cost savings and long-term reliability, making it the smart choice for optimizing commercial kitchen operations.
Download the full case study or contact us today to learn more about Intelli-Hood® and the benefit of kitchen hood controls.
