Moe's Southwest Grill celebrated the opening of the chain's first green restaurant in Williston, Vt., Oct. 15. Two years ago, franchise partners Sueayn and Philip Wood teamed with corporate to make the Williston Moe's the first LEED-certified restaurant in the chain and in the state of Vermont.
"Our hope is that some of the innovations that have been discovered through this process can be applied to other Moe's restaurants throughout the country," Sueayn Wood said.
On its way to earning Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Woods' Moe's has LED lighting, energy efficient cooking equipment and a technologically advanced 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. The new location features low flow sink aerators, low flow toilets and waterless urinals.
A Freeaire management system for the walk-in cooler overrides the condensers and evaporators once the outside air reaches a temperature that is equal to or cooler than the desired walk-in temperature.
"This project has been a great learning experience for the Moe's brand," Paul Damico, Moe's president, said. "It has challenged our operations, development and supply chain teams to find solutions that meet the USGBC's high standards."
In an effort to make responsible recommendations to franchise partners who wish to make their new and existing restaurants greener, Moe's is tracking the usage and cost of Williston's water, waste and energy to determine the impact of these environmentally friendly improvements.
"At the same time, Moe's is working on an energy efficiency strategy for the brand, testing a composting solution and making nutritional improvements," Damico said. "Moe's is committed to a more sustainable future and this marks the beginning of our journey."
