TIPS FOR GREENER RESTAURANTS --- INCREASING PROFITS BY REDUCING WASTE

If you own or operate a restaurant saving energy, water and other natural resources and limiting waste is not just citizenship, it's good business. By adopting environmenally sound practices you can improve your profit margin without raising prices or comprimising quality. 

Restaurants use five times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings and five times more energy in the kitchen than in the rest of the building.  And all of the energy you waste doesn’t just disappear --- it turns to heat and makes everyone uncomfortable unless you crank up the air conditioner.  The New York Restaurant Association estimates that a 10% decrease in energy costs has the same impact on operating income as a 1.26% increase in sales.

This blog entry offers practical ways to save energy and water and to reduce some other forms of waste, but the most valuable part of it is in  the “USEFUL RESOURCES” section. That’s where you’ll find web sites with a wealth of information and the email address of someone who can arrange for a free audit of your restaurant sponsored by the New York Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

SAVE ENERGY   

• Make sure that all equipment is in good operating order, including heating and ventilating systems, appliances, and lighting controls.  Filters should be changed and coils should be cleaned often, especially in a restaurant.
• Only run equipment when you need to.  During slower times, turn off things that are not in use.
• When purchasing new appliances, computers or other equipment, get the most energy efficient models you can.  The EPA’s Energy Star designation is indicative of energy efficiency, but some of the listed items are even more efficient than others.
• If you are installing new lighting, consider engaging a lighting designer who is a LEED Accredited Professional. Good lighting design is an art and a science.
• For a very modest cost you can change old fashioned fluorescent bulbs to more efficient T8s.  You’ll not only save energy and money with this quick and easy change, the kitchen staff may feel more comfortable because more efficient lighting generates less heat.
• Turn off computers and other electronic devices when they are not in use.  Electronic devices use some power even when they are off, so it’s best to plug them into a power strip and power that off.
• Demand response systems or variable speed motors in range hoods can save a lot of money, both by reducing the energy consumed by blowers and by reducing the load on the heating and ventilation system.

SAVE WATER

·        Check for leaks. Everywhere.

·        Put aerators on faucets that you are not replacing.

·        Low-flow pre-rinse spray valves can save a lot of water.  They are inexpensive and easy to install.

·        If you are replacing plumbing fixtures or fittings purchase models that save water.  Low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets are being used in all the best places.

·        Appliances vary in their water consumption, just as they do in their energy consumption, so if you’re buying anything new get the most efficient model possible.

·        It’s even more important to save hot water than cold water, because heating water takes so much energy. Insulating pipes and equipment is an easy and inexpensive way to conserve hot water. 

REDUCE WASTE

• Limit the use of disposable goods.
• Recycle cooking oil.  Your cooking waste is someone else’s biodiesel fuel.
• Track food waste and modify purchases accordingly.
• Donate surplus food to food banks.

USEFUL RESOURCES

The New York State Restaurant Association Education Foundation has a Green Hospitality Initiative. There is a workbook on their site that you can use on your own, and they have an EPA grant that allows them to offer restaurants free audits for energy, water and waste.
http://nysraef.org/

Flex Your Power – Provides a very useful best practices guide for restaurants called Boosting Restaurant Profits with Energy Efficiency.  The following link will get you to the section of the site I just mentioned, but poke around a bit because there’s also quite a bit of useful advice in other sections:

http://www.fypower.org/com/bpg/

Food Service Technology Center – Provides information about demand response kitchen exhaust, among other things. http://www.fishnick.com/ventilation/demandventilation/

Energy Star – Provides tips for saving energy and appliance efficiency ratings: 
www.energystar.gov

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT --- AND WHAT WE BREATHE - RENOVATION TIPS FOR HEALTHIER INDOOR AIR

Good indoor air quality is important for our health and well-being. Studies by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Federal Government and private entities demonstrate correlations between improved indoor environments and increased productivity and measure that increase in terms of reduced absenteeism. Other studies show that students attending green schools have higher than average scores on standardized tests.

Indoor air quality is typically five times worse than outdoor air quality, and standard construction procedures can degrade air quality and increase health risks. But green design and construction can greatly improve the quality of the air we breathe and create healthier, more pleasant environments at little or no additional cost.

As buildings become more airtight to conserve energy, it is more important than ever to reduce the amount of pollutants and increase the amount of fresh air that we introduce into our homes, schools and businesses.

Here are a few simple steps that you can take to minimize problems with air quality.    

BUST THE DUST   

• Air conditioning vents and equipment should be covered properly during the entire construction project.
•  Window fans installed and used specifically for construction can help exhaust dust and fumes.
• Possessions should be removed from the job site, if possible.  Anything left on the premises should be covered and placed in a separate, sealed-off space.
• Whenever possible, windows should be left open while work is being done.  
• Job sites should be kept clean and isolated from other areas.  
• The filters in all air conditioners should be changed when construction has been completed and before occupancy.  It is best to use the highest rated filters that will fit the units.
• Allow time for the dust to settle and be removed and for odors to dissipate before you move in. 
• Consider replacing air conditioners with high-performance models that have improved filters.  A filter’s efficacy is indicated by its Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or “MERV.”  MERV ratings range from one to 16, with higher numbers being better.

MINIMIZE MOLD

• Limit the use of organic building materials in wet or damp areas.  For instance, use moisture-resistant sheetrock in bathrooms, basements and other damp areas.  Use cement backer board for wet areas like showers.
• Fresh air is especially important in moist areas and cooking areas.  Use bathroom fans and range hoods that vent to the outside, if possible.  
• Bigger is not always better.  If you install new air conditioners, make sure that you don’t oversize them because a unit that is too powerful can cause problems with humidity and mold. 

FOCUS ON FUMES

• Wood and bamboo products (whether used in construction materials or furniture) should have no added urea formaldehyde.     
• Certain solids and liquids, especially composite products, paint, stains, adhesives, sealers and cleaning products emit gases called Volatile Organic Compounds (“VOCs”), and some VOCs have adverse health effects.  Use zero or low VOC materials, whenever possible.  Improvements are constantly being made to the  performance and toxicity limits of low-VOC products.
• Avoid products containing vinyl (Poly Vinyl Chloride – “PVC”), whenever possible.  Studies have linked the use of such products with serious health problems, especially in children, and the manufacture of PVC releases material that the EPA considers hazardous.
• Carpet, carpet pads and fabric can also emit toxins.  Organic textiles are not necessarily healthier, unless they are pesticide-free and untreated.
• If you have a choice, opt for furniture manufactured with water-based or other low-VOC finishes.
• Antique and vintage wood furniture that has its original finish will not off-gas.

USEFUL WEB SITES

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency - Provides useful advice for safeguarding our indoor and outdoor environments: www.epa.gov/gateway/learn

Green Seal, Greenguard and SCS – Organizations that test and certify products for lower toxic emissions:

www.greenseal.org
www.greenguard.org

http://www.scscertified.com/program_standards.php

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)- A not-for-profit organization that sets and administers voluntary standards for sustainable design and construction called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).  USGBC not only certifies buildings, it also accredits design and construction professionals. The web site includes a search engine for LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) by practice area and zip code:www.usgbc.org

   

Solar Decathlon - Market Appeal Contest

The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon consists of ten contests; architecture, market appeal, engineering communications, and affordability are evaluated by jurors or contest officials who are professionals in relevant fields. Comfort zone, hot water, appliances, and energy balance are measured contests. The final category is home entertainment category and involves completing certain defined tasks as well as hosting dinners and a movie night for neighbors, who vote for their favorites.

I served on the market appeal jury.  The criterea that we considered when evaluating the houses were:

Livability 

• Does the design offer a safe, functional, convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable place to live?
• Does it feature intuitive house controls?
• Does it meet the unique needs and desires of the target client? 

Marketability 

• Does the house have curb appeal, interior appeal, and quality craftsmanship?
• How well do its sustainability features and strategies contribute to its marketability?
• Does the house offer potential home buyers within the target market a good value? 

Buildability 

• Would the construction documents enable a contractor to generate an accurate construction cost estimate and then construct the building as the design team intended it to be built?
• Can the house's materials and equipment be immediately adopted and built in the private sector?

The top score for market appeal was awarded to "Self Reliance" by Middlebury College (Vermont). The team created a beautiful and comfortable two-bedroom home that seemed to have an ideal balance between public and private spaces.  And although no mention was made of LEED, this house addressed every aspect of sustainable design and construction.

This house would appeal strongly to potential homeowners in New England because the design, both inside and out, stays close to the vernacular architecture and extensive use is made of plentiful local materials.  For instance, the wooden floors were made of trees culled from the woods on campus and finished with a locally manufactured whey-based product.  The floors of the kitchen and entryway were made of Vermont slate, which would be easier to maintain in those areas than wood.

The kitchen is  especially attractive and features a glass wall that doubles as a greenhouse for fresh herbs and vegetable seedlings.
      

Photographs by Jim Tetro / U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Lessons from the Solar Decathlon

Good things come in small packages.  Recently I was privileged to serve as a juror for the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon.  The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. Each house could be no larger than 1,000 square feet, yet the students were able to create beautiful and comfortable homes. Small houses and lots are environmentally preferable in a number of ways, since they reduce the amount of materials needed to construct them as well as the amount of energy needed to heat, cool, and power the space. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

This year despite cloudy and rainy weather nearly half of the houses operated at net zero energy, which means that the energy generated by their solar arrays equaled or exceeded the energy they used.  Techniques used to reduce the energy load included:

• Superior insulation, including thermally insulated windows
• Strategic window shading devices such as overhangs, trellises and shutters 
• Efficient HVAC systems, often incorporating energy recovery units
• Efficient appliances and lighting
• Energy reporting and management systems that facilitate occupant control    

A number of the teams reached beyond energy to address other challenges.  The University of Maryland team won the overall competition with their WaterShed. As the name implies, the house focuses on preserving a resource essential to life on earth --- potable water. The house is a model of how the built environment can help preserve watersheds everywhere by managing storm water onsite, filtering pollutants from greywater, and minimizing water use.  Rain water is collected and reused, a green roof reduces storm water runoff, landscaping features drought-resistant plants and constructed wetlands filter greywater that can then be used for irrigation.

The house is made more comfortable by reducing humidity with an innovative solar-thermal liquid-desiccant system developed by the university.  Controlling humidity not only enables people to feel more comfortable at higher temperatures, it also discourages mold growth.

Photographs by Jim Tetro / U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Gradually Greener

Often people view green design as an all-or-nothing scenario, but I routinely make incremental improvements in sustainability at little or no additional cost in all of my design projects.  For instance, a prestigious medical school asked me to make the floor that houses the offices of admissions and other critical student services comfortable and welcoming while ensuring that it was durable and flexible enough to periodically  accommodate very large groups.  I was able to incorporate a number of sustainable features into the design for the lobby and hallways at no additional cost.

The furniture is Greenguard Certified, which means that it has passed rigorous tests for indoor air quality.  The wood is  FSC Certified, which means that it meets the Forest Stewardship Council's standards for ensuring the preservation of precious natural resources.

The carpet tiles are from Interface, a leader in sustainable manufacturing that provides a model for "Doing well by doing good." The company's closed-loop process uses less water and energy than standard production.  I opted for a glueless installation, which improves indoor air quality and facilitates future replacement of tiles. Because this is a very high-traffic area I chose a purposely random pattern so that any new tiles can seamlessly blend with old ones. 

One of the major changes to my design practice as I became increasingly focused on the potential health impacts of certain materials has been to avoid using vinyl whenever possible. Suitably durable wallcovering alternatives are more expensive, so I only installed them on two relatively short walls where they would make the most impact (visually and for maintenance) and specified low-VOC paint everywhere else.

The client chose not to undertake lighting redesign at this point, but all of the fixtures were replaced with more efficient ones.

Below is a "Before" photograph of the same area.

      

Why A Patio Could Cause Problems

Greenwich, Connecticut is considering legislation that would require homeowners who want to increase the amount of non-permeable surfaces on their property to go through a procedure that includes evaluating and mitigating the environmental impact of potential stormwater runoff.

Local realtors are concerned that the legislation could decrease property values by making it more difficult and expensive for buyers to make changes to their property.  For instance obtaining permission to adds a stone patio, which is now a simple process, would become more complex.

Although environmental legislation sometimes does inconvenience individuals, such legislation is meant to benefit citizens. Stormwater runoff pollutes local water, and surely such pollution could impact property values more than regulations to avoid it would.  Another drawback to fully paved patios is erosion in the surrounding areas.

Having a high level of aesthetic discernment is essential to my interior design practice, and a hallmark of any good design is that it is appropriate for its context. Hopefully, this should make it easier for people who are concerned about   restrictions on pavement around their homes to take my word for it when I say that one of the most attractive and appropriate patio materials for a suburban or country home is, in my professional opinion, flagstone laid without mortar.

                

Warning “Green” Products May be Hazardous to Your Health

Green products are not always healthy products. As a matter of fact, some of them can kill people, either through their use or through their production and disposal. Green claims for such products make me see red.

Some materials commonly used in the construction and furnishing of buildings contain substances that are persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBTs)* or contribute to the formation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs),** and should be avoided whenever possible. “Toxic” in this context refers to serious adverse health risks, such as cancer, birth defects or neurological or reproductive disorders. There are brief descriptions of PBTs and POPs at the end of this post.

Greenwashing is the deceptive use of marketing to promote a misleading perception that a company’s products or policies are environmentally friendly. It takes many forms, from making totally bogus claims to not providing information about negative impacts of a product that actually has some green aspect. The worst form of greenwashing, as far as I’m concerned, is making environmental claims to encourage people to use something that can have adverse health impacts.

Manufacturers of products containing Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) such as vinyl wall coverings and floor coverings might claim that they are green because they contain high recycled content, but the manufacture and disposal of these products produces dioxins (persistent toxins that the EPA and National Academy of Sciences link to cancer, birth defects, and other health problems). Most vinyl products contain phthalates, PBTs that are continuously emitted from such products and that are linked to reproductive disorders. Yet at least one manufacturer of vinyl tiles has worksheets on its website showing how using its product can contribute to LEED certification.

Bamboo is a perfect example of a “natural and sustainable” material that should be carefully evaluated. Products containing bamboo are widely viewed as “green,” and they do all meet one of the criteria of sustainable design and construction. Because bamboo grows much more rapidly than trees, it does save natural resources, and using it can qualify for LEED points in the “rapidly renewable material” category. But most flooring materials and other products made with bamboo contain added urea formaldehyde, a type of volatile organic compound (VOC) which the EPA considers especially harmful. In addition, this “green” material is grown with pesticides, rainforests are sometimes clear-cut to create space to plant bamboo, and most bamboo growers are not committed to fair trade practices including fair compensation for employees.

Although post-consumer waste is considered better than postindustrial waste when it comes to conserving natural resources, how can we be sure that something contains no toxins if we cannot trace each ingredient it to its origin? An extreme example would be a product made from tires that had been used for vehicles operating in a hazardous waste dump.

When in doubt, just think of your mother saying “don’t put that in your mouth, you don’t know where it has been.” If you think that putting something in your mouth could cause health problems, perhaps you should think twice about using it. For professionals involved in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings one of the best ways to “know where it has been” is to read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the manufacturer of a product that you are thinking of using.

The Green Guide for Health Care puts considerably more emphasis on the potential health impacts of interior design, construction techniques, and product choices than other systems.

* Persistent bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) pollutants are chemicals that are toxic, persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in food chains and, thus, pose risks to human health and ecosystems. The biggest concerns about PBTs are that they transfer rather easily among air, water, and land, and span boundaries of programs, geography, and generations. (From the EPA website)

** Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. Because of this, they have been observed to persist in the environment, to be capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue, biomagnify in food chains,[1] and to have potential significant impacts on human health and the environment. (From Wikipedia)