Quick-serve giant joins Energy Star
The Wendy’s Company has extended its commitment to reducing energy.
The restaurant chain has joined the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Program and will work to improve energy efficiency through a strategic, corporate energy management program that will enhance the company's energy strategy.
"Through this partnership, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship and lowering our energy use by improving the energy efficiency of our restaurants,” said Abigail Pringle, chief development officer for The Wendy's Company.
In partnership with Energy Star, Wendy’s will do the following:
• Measure and track the energy performance of its facilities, where possible, by using tools offered through Energy Star;
• Develop and implement a plan consistent with the program’s energy management guidelines to achieve energy savings;
• Communicate the importance of energy efficiency to the Wendy's system;
• Support the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, a national program to help improve the energy efficiency of America's commercial and industrial buildings by 20% or more.
Earlier this year, Wendy's joined the Better Buildings Challenge and made a commitment to reduce energy consumption in U.S. company-owned restaurants by 20% per transaction by 2025.
Wendy's is also the first restaurant company to include franchisees in the Better Buildings Challenge. To date, 14 franchisees are participating in this program.
In addition, Wendy's has reduced energy use by implementing more than 1,100 individual energy upgrade projects at more than 550 restaurants. The projects include the installation of LED lights in the interior and exterior, upgrading HVAC systems and installing more efficient motors in walk in coolers. These actions have saved more than 13 million kilowatt hours (kWh).
Wendy's Company is the world's third largest quick-service hamburger restaurant chain, with more than 6,500 restaurants around the globe.