Chipotle Mexican Grill Opens With On-Site Wind Turbine
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.14.08
Chipotle Mexican Grill is kicking up LEED a notch by opening a partially wind-powered restaurant in Gurnee, Illinois. The six-kilowatt wind turbine is capable of supplying up to 10% of the facility's electricity demand. The turbine, and several other green features, are being deployed as part of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Retail pilot program.
Gurnee being several miles from the Lake Michigan shore, capacity factor for the turbine is likely to be sub-optimal. But, the novelty factor will certainly draw customer attention. Americans, after all, are new to the sight of a wind turbine in a retail or commercial setting.
Here's an example of the same idea from Kings Creek Hotel in Australia (below).
Land Zoned For Commercial and Retail Is a Natural Fit For Wind Turbines
Wind turbines in a commercial/retail setting are less likely to create conflict with residential property owners (the roar of traffic will generally exceed the hum of the turbines anyhow). Putting them in that setting is good for public education as well, as familiarity generates acceptance (pun intended).
More Wind Turbines On Retail Establishments
New Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Tested at Texas Grocery Store ...
Naked Chef Wants Naked Energy
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- 10 Small-Scale Wind Turbines Cut NYC Apartment Building’s Electric Costs in Half
- We Want Renewable Energy & Green Jobs Too: Native American Groups Tell Obama
- Canada In12'th Place On Wind Power Capacity
- Is Toyota Hot on the Trail of a Solar Powered Car?
White House Organic Farm VIDEO
|
US Solar Power Moratorium, Revisited: Public Comment on Bureau of Land Management Policy Summary Released
|
I think the wind turbine is great, but let's be honest, Gurnee is a god-awful strip mall from hell. In fact it is the world's largest outlet mall. it's the epitome of the worst of all sprawl, so there's nothing green about it, even if it is wind powered!
Is the 10% of the energy being used to keep the plates warm and the food cold like other Mexico-style resturants?
-Lego
While Gurnee may be the center point of sprawl near the wisconsin/illinois border, there are a lot of people who live and work near there. there is also a lot of farm land close by. There should be more businesses like this making an effort to be more sustainable. This came from their website: "Our Food With Integrity mission is about a different kind of revolution, one that represents a return to the organic and sustainable farming methods that worked quite well for hundreds of years. We're off to a great start by sourcing as much naturally raised meat as we can (already more than any other restaurant in the country), and by using sour cream that's free of the synthetic hormone rBGH for our burritos and tacos. " I think they should be commended for their efforts.
10% of energy from one turbine???
I hope they are successful, because no other restaurant seems to be able to reach that milestone.