Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it will open a “green” restaurant in Gurnee, IL, this fall. The new restaurant will have a six-kilowatt wind turbine on-site to generate about 10 percent of the restaurant’s electrical needs. The company will seek LEED certification for the new restaurant.
The new green restaurant will feature a 2,500 gallon underground water cistern, which will harvest rainwater to irrigate the landscape. In addition, the restaurant will also use recycled drywall, barn metal, and primers and paints containing fewer chemicals. LED lighting and efficient faucets and toilets as well as Energy Star rated kitchen equipments have also been installed.
Chipotle is also seeking LEED for Retail certification for a Minnetonka, Minnesota restaurant that is part of a pre-existing building and shopping center.
The news comes as green architect Marc Geftman of TurnKey Concepts tells restaurants that they should go green to save money and attract customers.
Geftman advises restaurants to consider how the building is situated and look at how building overhangs may address direct sun exposure. In addition, Geftman says when locating a new restaurant in an existing building, energy savings can result from careful selection of appropriate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.