KFC opens green restaurant

The East Maitland store is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifiable quick service restaurant in Australia.

LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based, market driven program that provides global third-party verification of green buildings – once formally certified, the East Maitland restaurant will mark KFC’s ninth LEED store globally, with other locations in Turkey, China, the United Kingdom and the US.

The restaurant features the latest in environmentally-friendly building design, operations and technology. it is expected to divert more than 40,000 kilograms of waste from landfill each year, reduce energy use for lighting by around 50 percent and reduce water use by up to 20 percent.

Everything from KFC’s canola cooking oil, cardboard, bottles and cans can be recycled, with food and general waste turned into compost.

Overall energy use is expected to be reduced by at least 16 percent, through the installation of LED lighting throughout the entire site, innovative day-light and movement sensors in strategic areas, as well as industry-leading kitchen ventilation technology.

A range of water-saving measures have also been implemented, such as the installation of water efficient landscaping, tankless water heaters and water conservation systems for taps, bathrooms and urinals.

Michael Clark, chief supply chain officer for KFC Australia, said “This new restaurant marks a huge milestone in our journey towards creating more sustainable restaurants.

We have been investigating more energy efficient technologies, processes and systems for several years and we’re excited to be rolling out many of these innovative initiatives across our company restaurants.

“As one of the largest quick service restaurant brands in Australia we believe it is our responsibility to minimise the impact of our business on the environment we live and operate in,” Clark said.

“We are committed to making substantial investments in research and initiatives designed to reduce our environmental impact and to help ensure that all our new restaurants are LEED certifiable by 2015.”

At the official launch event Environment Minister Robyn Parker, welcomed the opening of KFC’s new green store.

“It’s great to see the project incorporate environmental sustainability as a key aspect of its design and I hope it will inspire local businesses to do the same,” the Minister said.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting local businesses to become more water and energy efficient so they too can drive down operating costs and help the environment.” More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.