Enjoy Eco-Friendly Dining at Green Restaurants

Dining out is one of life's simple pleasures. From enjoying a meal that you didn't have to cook or not having to worry about doing the dishes, eating at a green restaurant can help minimize your environmental impact when dining out. Commercial restaurants and food service operations spend $10 billion on energy each year. 80% of those costs are associated with inefficiencies in cooking, holding and food storage according to the Pacific Gas and Electric's Food Service Technology Center. Green restaurants are working to reduce both their energy use and environmental impact.

What Makes a Restaurant Green?

The Green Restaurant Association has certified restaurants for two decades. Restaurants can earn certification based on water efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable furnishing, sustainable food, energy use, type of disposables and the type of chemicals used and pollution emitted. A point system is assigned to each category to rate the restaurants.

The National Restaurant Association has also implemented a Greener Restaurants program to help restaurants conserve resources and operate more efficiently. The National Restaurant Association's Greener Restaurants program evaluates a restaurant's energy efficiency, water conservation, building construction, program administration, waste reduction and innovative sustainability techniques.

How to Find Green Restaurants?

There are a few ways to find out if your favorite restaurant has gone green. One way is to simply ask. Find out where their ingredients come from. Find out if they try to purchase foods locally. Visit their website to read their Green or Sustainability policies. The Green Restaurant Association website (dinegreen.com) lists restaurants throughout the country that have been certified green.

According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurant chains like Subway have invested in "Eco Stores" to reduce their carbon footprint. Climate Counts ranks Starbucks as striding and McDonald's, Darden Restaurants which includes Olive Garden and Red Lobster and YUM brands comprising of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut as showing progress in reducing their overall green impact. Chipotle restaurants have also made their commitment to the environment by finding food with integrity that respects both animals and the environment.

Even if your favorite restaurant isn't green, you can still lessen your environmental impact by taking these steps. Choose restaurants that use real dishes, silverware and linens when possible. Avoid restaurants that rely heavily on disposables. When visiting your favorite coffee shop, elect to bring your own travel mug instead of a disposable mug. Avoid food waste by ordering appropriately-sized portions.

As more consumers embrace sustainability and green living, the number of green restaurants continue to increase. In fact, 79% of consumers are more likely to dine at a Certified Green Restaurant over one that is not according to a 2010 Technomic survey. From chains to locally owned independent restaurants, green restaurants set themselves apart by offering fresh, organic vegetables grown locally or hormone-free meats.

Sources:
National Restaurant Association, Greener Restaurants (greenerrestaurants.com)
Energy Star, Energy Use and Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Restaurants,

Green Restaurant Association, http://www.dinegreen.com/