Ted Turner's Green Restaurant Revolution—His Top Ten Ways to Green The Restaurant Industry
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 10. 5.08
Click on image to view Ted Turner's podcast.
photo: Ted's Montana Grill
It seems that whatever Ted Turner puts his little paws on turns to gold, in this case, green. With the Green Restaurant Revolution, he has now taken to traveling the country with green restaurateurs to turn the green movement into more than a passing fad. Check out his suggestions for greening an industry that uses more than five times as much water as any other retail industry. Restaurants can go green and save tons of money at the same time.
From the get go Ted's Montana Grill was a greener restaurant chain, but recently Turner has gone a step further with his Green Restaurant Revolution. Turner and Ted's Montana Grill CEO and Cofounder, George McKerrow Jr. have been traveling the country visiting Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. to teach restaurateurs how to make their restaurants more sustainable.
Sustainable Features at Ted's Montana Grill
With green initiatives like recycled paper and no Styrofoam or plastic, the restaurant has attempted to set a green example. Menus are printed on recycled paper and soft drinks come in recyclable glass bottles. Instead of plastic, eco-friendly paper straws and wooden drink stirrers are used and to-go cups look like plastic but are actually made from corn starch. The to-go cutlery is made from potato starch and the chain uses low-voltage lighting in its guest areas. Other green features include restrooms with water-efficient toilets, waterless urinals, and biodegradable powder Boraxo soap. Kitchens are even equipped with griddle cooktops, which lower the level of grease particulates in the air. It's all part of The National Restaurant Association Conserve Initiative which Turner's Foundation has been funding.
The Green Restaurant Revolution's Top Ten Ways to Green The Restaurant Industry:
1. Turn off interior/exterior lights and cooking hoods when not in use. Install motion detectors in storerooms, offices, and restrooms. Set lights on timers.
2. Repair leaky faucets and toilets. Stop air leaks by caulking and insulating around leaky windows and doors and installing energy curtains in freezer rooms.
3. Replace incandescents with longer lasting CFL light bulbs or LED lights. Replace traditional exit signs with LED exit lighting.
4. Follow the 3 R's of sustainability: reduce, reuse, recycle. Reduce waste. Reuse furniture and flooring. Recycle paper, plastics, glass, and aluminum.
5. When not in use, unplug computers, electronics, coffee machines, POS system, and any small appliances.
6. Serve customers water upon request. Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full. Install low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, and tankless water heaters.
7. Train employees on energy saving procedures and on the importance of energy conservation and water use. Tell customers about your energy efforts.
8. Clean equipment runs more efficiently. Regularly dust and clean appliances, top to bottom. Perform routine preventive maintenance on HVAC, plumbing, appliances, and other major equipment.
9. Use low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) or no-VOC paints, recycled flooring, and managed forest wood. Install a reflective roof, sun lights, and energy-efficient windows.
10. Purchase appliances, electronics, and other EPA-tested equipment that carries the ENERGY STAR label.
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Another good tip to help green your restaurant is to get an energy assessment. Many utility companies offer free energy assessments and seeing your numbers can help an establishment understand how to implement the best energy practices.
curious as to why supporting local farmers isn't on the list?