The Williston, Vt. location of Moe's Southwest Grill received LEED silver certification, making it the first restaurant in the chain and state to earn the honor.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
By using less energy and water, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents.
Local Franchise Partners Sueayn and Philip Wood set out to build a restaurant and achieve LEED certification a couple years ago.
Some of the green design and construction features that impacted the project include LED lighting, energy-efficient cooking equipment and an air-control system that they anticipate will reduce energy consumption by 22 percent.
In compliance with LEED standards, the building materials were locally sourced and the laminates, paint and adhesives are all low-emission to help enhance the air quality of the restaurant.
In addition, this new location features low flow sink aerators, low flow toilets and waterless urinals.
Finally, a unique regional feature is the Freeaire management system for the walk-in cooler that overrides the condensers and evaporators once the outside air reaches a temperature that is equal to or cooler than the desired walk-in temperature.
"It has been an amazing experience building a green restaurant from the ground up," said Sueayn Wood. "We're proud to offer our guests a well-rounded, eco-friendly dining experience, from the building design to our sustainable ingredients like grass-fed steak, grain-fed pork and organic tofu."
