ATLANTA, GA — As part of the Obama Administration’s effort to cut energy waste in the nation’s restaurants and buildings, today the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge program recognized Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. for its leadership in energy efficiency and 38 percent energy savings at its flagship restaurant in Atlanta. As one of the first food service partners to join the Department’s Better Buildings Challenge, Arby’s has committed to 20 percent energy savings over 10 years, across 2.7 million square feet of building space, at company-owned restaurants. Within four years, Arby’s is more than halfway to meeting its goal.
Arby’s joined the Better Buildings Challenge in 2015, as a way to improve efficiencies in restaurants and reduce energy consumption and associated environmental and community impacts. Efficiency matters to restaurant owners and employees, since energy costs are among the top expenses—along with food and labor.
“Arby’s energy efficiency work is proof that brands can set ambitious energy savings goals,” said Dr. David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Even with historically energy-intensive buildings like restaurants, Arby’s is committed to developing innovative and successful models and approaches with restaurant owners interested in replicating gains in efficiency.”
The energy savings practices and programs implemented as part of the Better Buildings Challenge are part of Arby’s Efficiency Matters campaign, launched by the brand in 2012. As part of the Efficiency Matters program launch, Arby’s set a goal of 15 percent energy reduction by the end of 2015.
“Working with the Better Buildings Challenge has been an important extension of our Efficiency Matters program, inspiring us to increase our goal to 20 percent energy reduction by 2020,” said Paul Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. “Our team members are empowered by the energy savings we’ve seen and we’re excited to continue to find new avenues to reinvest the cost savings, as well as be responsible stewards of the environment.”
The company’s full-scale energy use data monitoring system helps them make informed decisions about when and where to deploy various efficiency upgrades. These include lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, refrigeration and hot water efficiency measures. An energy awareness program geared toward employees focuses on helping sites across the country act on low-cost energy savings opportunities. Arby’s has improved energy performance across 92 percent of its more than 900 company-owned restaurants nationwide.
Arby’s flagship restaurant at 1751 Howell Mill Rd. in Atlanta was remodeled in April and is the most energy efficient Arby’s location in the country. The restaurant demonstrates what is possible for energy efficiency and it also serves as a digital model restaurant, complete with digital menu boards and enhanced point-of-sale technology with new payment options.
As a cornerstone of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the Better Buildings Challenge is aimed at achieving the goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030 while motivating corporate and public-sector leaders across the country to save energy through commitments and investments. More than 250 organizations are partnering with the Energy Department to achieve 20 percent portfolio-wide energy savings and share successful strategies that maximize efficiency over the next decade. Across the country, partners have shared energy data for more than 32,000 properties and are reporting energy savings of 20 percent or more at 4,500 properties, and 10 percent or more at 12,000 properties.
Arby’s Restaurant photo courtesy of Shutterstock
