Fast Food Retailers Embrace LEED Certification

Photo Credit: Dunkin' Brands

As sustainable construction continues to become a standard practice for many, it’s not surprising that retailers are responding to their consumers’ interests.   But, what may surprise you is the extent to which fast food retailers are testing LEED certified store concepts.

Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza hut has opened its first LEED certified store in Northampton, MA.  This KFC-Taco Bell boasts LED lighting, high percentages of recycled content in building materials, preferred parking for EEV’s, solar preheating of intake fresh air and stormwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.  The energy model shows a 30% reduction in utility costs versus a standard store.

Dunkin’ Brands recently brought their first LEED certified store online in St. Petersburg, FL.   Sustainable highlights of the outlet include an ICF-based structure, low flow fixtures and motion sensing lighting in the restrooms, well water for irrigation and (check this) an onsite earthworm casting facility.  A solar powered tank hosts 80 pounds of earthworms that convert organic waste into fertilizer.

Subway, in December, opened it’s fifth ‘Eco-Store’, this one a LEED Silver property in Kissimmee, FL.  The store employs LED interior and signage lighting, remote condensing for cooling and ice makers, sustainable building materials and finishes and low-flow fixures.  Notably, Subway has benchmarked their ‘Eco-Stores’ against standard stores and shown a 20% reduction in exnergy costs.

Chipotle has three stores on path to LEED Certification, including a recently opened location in Gurnee, IL.  The Gurnee location features high-albedo roofing and hardscape, low-E windows, a 2,500-gallon cistern for rainwater irrigation of the native landscaping, low-VOC finishes, and an on-site wind turbine that generates 10% of the total required electricity.

Considering the depth and density of the fast food sector in America today,  it’s encouraging to see these retailers stepping up.  If you have any fast food retailers following suit in your area, please share your stories.