Going Green
The Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a Boston-based nonprofit environmental organization, aims to help as many restaurants as possible “go green” by joining up and getting certified as green. Going green isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for your bottom line, too, says GRA founder and Executive Director Michael Oshman.
Here are some facts and ideas that multi-unit franchisers and area developers could put to use or share with franchisees.
Sample Savings
Going green can help foodservice operators cut energy consumption by 30 percent, says Oshman, as well as identify changes that can result in other savings. For example:
- Sink equipment. Water-efficient and energy-efficient sink equipment such as low-flow spray valves can save up to $2,000 per year.
- Lighting. Energy-saving compact-fluorescent bulbs or LED fixtures can cut lighting costs by 75 percent to 90 percent, with payback of initial investment in less than a year.
- Kitchen exhaust and ventilation. These account for an estimated 11 percent of a restaurant’s energy costs. Devices can be installed to minimize heat loss and trim bills.
- Recycling. Recycling can save $2,000 or more per year in garbage-collection fees.
How It Works
GRA will perform an environmental assessment of your locations and identify steps to “green” those units. GRA helps source environmentally friendly products and design energy-saving strategies. The annual fee for GRA membership runs between $500 and $3,000 per unit, depending on the number of units and years you commit. Continuing green certification requires a commitment to making four changes per year.
Making a Difference
Restaurants—especially the combined impact of a multi-unit franchise operation—can really make a difference.
“The U.S. restaurant industry is the largest consumer of electricity in the retail sector, accounting for one-third of all U.S. retail energy use,” says Oshman. “When we look at issues of global warming, energy independence and skyrocketing energy bills, our mission is to help this huge financial piece of the largest economy of the world to become environmentally sustainable.”
Next month, we’ll look at a case study of the greening of a multi-unit franchise.