Excitement brews as Dunkin' Donuts goes green

Dunkin' Donuts, the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world, broke ground in May and aims to open its first LEED Gold-certified restaurant in St. Petersburg, Fla., in September.

Designed by Oliveri Architects, Palm Harbor, Fla., with Clearwater-based First Florida Contracting Services as GC, the new restaurant is part of the company's overall plan to incorporate green building principles in future models.

The restaurant, which will look like the Dunkin' Donuts flagship model design, will have numerous sustainable features, including:

• Energy-efficient insulated concrete foam walls to reduce air-conditioning usage by approximately 40%
• Energy-efficient lighting, including motion sensors for restrooms and offices
• Water-efficient plumbing fixtures, including low-flush toilets, and the use of well water for all irrigation
• Waste diversion from the construction site to a local recycling center
• Identifiable and designated areas within the restaurant for storage and collection of recyclable materials
• Indoor air quality standards for debris, dust, and garbage levels during construction

“Responsibility is one of our seven core values and that includes responsibility to the environment and the communities in which we operate,” says Jon L. Luther, Dunkin' Brands chairman and CEO. “And, if we can operate in a way that reduces our environmental footprint …we are playing a small, but very important role in making the world a better place to both work and live.” —Lenora Jane Estes, Editorial Intern