It’s Electric: Chipotle’s New Restaurant Design

Chipotle Mexican Grill (Newport Beach, Calif.) has unveiled a new, all-electric restaurant design that it says works to maximize energy efficiency in its equipment and systems. Such locales utilize 100 percent renewable energy from wind power and solar through the purchase of certified renewable energy credits, the restaurant chain said.

The company recently opened restaurants with the new features in Gloucester, Va., and Jacksonville, Fla., with a third opening this summer in Castle Rock, Colo.

Rendering Courtesy of Chipotle

Chipotle said new restaurant design pilot will help Chipotle progress toward its science-based targets, established in alignment with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), to reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline.

With a goal of eventually growing to 7000 locations in North America , Chipotle said it will leverage its new restaurant openings to scale the company’s overall impact. The chain plans to have more than 100 of its new locations in 2024 utilize all-electric equipment or at least some additional elements from its new design.

Major elements of the design include:

• Rooftop solar panels, where feasible
• All-electric equipment and systems to replace gas power
• Heat pump water heaters
• Smaller electric cookline and improved exhaust hoods compared to other Chipotle kitchens
• Cactus leather chairs
• Artwork made from recycled rice husks
• Electric vehicle charging stations at select locations

“With our aggressive development goal in North America, we hold ourselves accountable to reduce the environmental impact of our restaurants,” said Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. “We are aiming to incorporate some elements of our responsible restaurant design into many of our new restaurant openings going forward.”

Chipotle currently has nearly 3200 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its locales.