Chipotle Mexican Grill (Denver) plans to partner with Standard Renewable Energy (Houston) to install solar panels on approximately 75 Chipotle restaurants over the next year. Installations are underway at restaurants in Denver, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, with more locations to be chosen based on the viability of a location using a formula that includes a restaurant’s electricity consumption, local utility solar rebates, and its access to direct sunlight.
“Our effort to change the way people think about and eat fast food began with our commitment to serving food made with ingredients from more sustainable sources, and that same kind of thinking now influences all areas of our business,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-ceo of Chipotle. “Today, we’re following a similar path in the way we design and build restaurants, looking for more environmentally friendly building materials and systems that make our restaurants more efficient.”
Chipotle aims to reduce restaurants’ traditional energy consumption during peak hours (from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), when pressure on the energy grid is greatest. The company also expects the solar program to eliminate more than 41 million pounds of CO2 emissions.
The chain began earning its green credentials last year when it became the first restaurant ever to receive LEED platinum certification – the highest level awarded under the U.S. Green Building Council’s sustainable building guidelines. That Gurnee, Ill., restaurant features an on-site wind turbine and an underground cistern to harvest rainwater for irrigation. Chipotle also has a LEED certified restaurant in Long Island, N.Y., and a third restaurant that is pending certification in Minneapolis. In addition, all of the company’s new restaurants include some green materials or systems, including low-VOC paints and sealants, recycled drywall and stainless steel, photocell light controls that regulate electric lighting based on availability of natural lighting, or low-E window glass that helps reduce heating and cooling needs.
Founded in 1993, Chipotle operates nearly 900 restaurants.