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Eating out during your green home remodel? What’s on the menu?
May 1st, 2008
Cabinets torn out, walls ripped down to the studs, all you see is the sub-floor. You are remodeling your kitchen, and there is that oh-so-familiar question each night, “What are we having for dinner?” So, are you cooking via the microwave that sits on a stool in your den? Do you grill outside, again?
Did someone say Take-Out?
GetWithGreen was contacted today by Taco Bell, and they asked if we would share their recent green conservation story. We tried hard to find the connection between your interests in eco-friendly home remodeling, and a “run for the Border.” Well if you are hungry tonight, and your kitchen is ripped apart, it might be that Taco Bell is a consideration for quieting the hungry family. If that’s the case, here is how a crunchy taco and Burrito Supreme might align with your overall greener mission (can’t wait to see your comments on this one :-)). Enjoy!
Run for the Border?
Taco Bell is rolling out its new Grill-to-Order cooking cooking method by installing water and energy saving electric grills that will conserve 300 million gallons of water per year, the equivalent of filling enough 8oz. cups to stretch across the United States 80 times.
Already operating in more than more than 3,000 restaurants—or about half of all Taco Bell® locations—the company plans to have all its 5,600 restaurants using the Grill-to-Order cooking method by 2010. With Grill-to-Order, customers will enjoy the same great Mexican-style inspired tastes, along with a temperature improvement of products containing grilled tortillas and flatbread. While Taco Bell is taking responsible action in improving its food preparation practices, customers have the added benefit of conserving our most precious natural resources with every order.
Grill-to-Order goes beyond conserving water as roughly 200 million kwH of electricity will also be saved per year – enough electricity to power the nation’s tallest building, the Sears Tower in Chicago, for roughly 18 months. Additionally, the new equipment will save more than 1.2 million therms of gas each year by not heating water. Grill-to-Order demonstrates Taco Bell’s ongoing work and long term commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.
Taco Bell partnered with Southern California Edison (SCE) and their Foodservice Technology Center to validate energy savings of the Grill-to-Order dry line. SCE recently lauded the cooking method, calling it an energy management success story.
Water - Use it Wisely
Water – Use it Wisely, a national campaign aimed at educating individuals on the importance of water conservation, has endorsed Taco Bell as a pioneer that other quick service restaurants should follow.
Companies like Taco Bell have taken a proactive step in cutting back water use and thinking of alternative ways to offer a product that is not only good for their customer but good for the environment, too,” said Park Howell, Founder, Water – Use it Wisely. “Every ounce of water saved by using the Grill-to-Order cooking method will benefit the communities Taco Bell serves.”
Taco Bell encourages everyone to think of simple ways to reduce the amount of water they use. For more ways to conserve water and make a difference in preserving this valuable natural resource, please visit Water – Use it Wisely at www.wateruseitwisely.com.
Fun Facts
Grill-to-Order saves enough water per year to:
- Supply every household in Atlanta with water for the day
- Fill 8 oz. water cups that would stretch across the US 80 times
- Fill 8 oz. water cups that would stretch around the globe more than 10 times
- Fill 8 oz. water cups that would stretch to the moon
Grill-to-Order saves enough electricity per year to:
- Power every household in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, DC and Dallas for one day
- Provide every human in Paris, London, Sydney, Rome, Mexico City and Los Angeles for one day
Power for a year:
- 11,111,111 Blenders
- 566,893 Refrigerators
- 763,359 Microwaves
- 247,758 Computers
- 2,017,756 Washing Machines
- 59,523,810 Electric Shavers