America’s Favorite Neighbor is becoming America’s Greenest Neighbor
Apple-Metro, Inc., the NY Metro Area Franchisee for Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, is a green-conscious organization from top to bottom. It owns and operates 31 Applebee’s and in the Five Boroughs, Westchester and Rockland Counties with plans to open three new restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2010, allowing the company to explore green practices in the construction process as it builds the next generation of restaurants.
Each of Apple-Metro’s Applebee’s makes a conscious effort to connect with the community. Part of that connection includes being socially and environmentally aware in our individual neighborhoods.
In our Offices:
• We have a strict recycling policy in the office
• Our Finance Department uses recycled paper (printing on both sides) on all internal documents, especially when printing out trial balances.
• Our Marketing Department uses the same recycled paper when printing out approval proofs.
• We are using more efficient Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL) where applicable
• As you will note at the bottom of my e-mail, we are reminding our partners and vendors to save paper where possible.
o Where possible, we are paying bills on-line
o Where possible in our Marketing Department we are receiving print proof of performance tear-sheets electronically vs. paper.
• Our IT Department has a program that allows them to donate old equipment in our communities, repurposing it and avoiding adding to our area land fills
In our Neighborhoods:
• For the past three years we have been a partner with Doe Fund RWA Resource Recovery Initiative to ensure that our waste oil is being recycled properly. Not only is our waste oil converted into BioDiesel but, there is a community based training component as well.
o
http://www.doe.org/news/new_initiatives/?initOrder=1&CFID=2161163&CFTOKEN=10228057• For the past two years we have been a sponsor of Nu-Ride’s Corporate Ride-Sharing Initiatives. Our participation as a 125,000 Mile Sponsor translates to 3,200 shared rides and;
o 5,200 fewer car trips each year
o 51 fewer tons of emissions each year
o Over 5,000 gallons of gasoline conserved each year
In our Restaurants: (This is where it gets really exciting…)
• In December we opened the nation’s 2,000th Applebee’s on Fifth Avenue and 125th St. in Harlem. In that restaurant we are using Sloan Waterfree Urinals.
o Not only are we being ecologically sensitive, saving an average of 40,000 gallons of water per unit per year, we’re creating awareness and education in the community around this relatively new technology, demonstrating the ease of use and effectiveness in a very high traffic environment.
o Based upon our positive experience in this application we are working on a plan for conversion at our other restaurants as they are scheduled for restroom re-fits.
• Our walk-in coolers and freezers utilize strip curtains inside their doors to reduce wasted cooling energy given that they are considered high traffic areas.
• We have initiated the use of Kason motion-sensor lighting in our walk-in coolers to reduce energy use over 30%.
• We use Eco-Grip Flooring in our kitchens and behind our bars, made from 100% post-industrial recycled PVC.
• In some key entry areas we use air curtains to reduce lost heat / cooling energy.
• We utilize Noritz on-demand tankless hot water systems avoiding wasted energy heating and re-heating water. 25 year lifespan.
• We are in the process of changing out lighting, using more efficient Everlume LED and CFL fixtures to further enhance our energy conservation. Everlume uses 12 watts vs. 60 watt incandescent with 30,000 + hr life.
o Currently in place in our Harlem location.
• Our external signage package is evolving and new installations are taking advantage of more efficient / green LED lighting.
• We are currently researching the following for implementation in new construction and re-fits of existing restaurant locations;
o SpecTrim Wainscot and trim, made from 100% recycled PVC and MDF.
o EcoPower Flush Valves for toilets. The hydro powered turbine charges the power supply during usage eliminating the need for battery replacement or consumption of external power for up to 10 years.
o EcoPower Self-Sustaining Faucets, self-powered and use 64% less water
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