National restaurant chain Arby’s recently built a new site in Magnolia, Texas, to earth-friendly standards sufficient to earn it Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Serving as Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc.’s first “green” restaurant, the building constitutes the only Silver LEED-certified restaurant listed on the USGBC Web site for Texas.
The construction incorporated energy and water conservation in the form of efficient Energy Star-certified kitchen equipment, LED lighting, motion sensors, low-flow toilets, tankless water heaters and an energy efficient heating and ventilation system. The restaurant will also rely on renewable energy for 35 percent of its electricity.
Materials used in the interior were chosen for low-emissions, such as paints, sealants and wallpaper. In fact, the upholstery, laminate and floor tile all contain recycled materials.
Outside, a thermoplastic membrane roof, solar glass and thermally-broken aluminum were chosen to help reduce energy consumption. Visitors arriving in fuel-efficient cars get preferred parking spots in the parking lot, which is landscaped with native plants able to thrive in drought conditions.
