Germany - Fast food chain adds wind and solar energy to its menu

A Burger King restaurant in Germany is downsizing its energy bills with a solar photovoltaic installation, a wind turbine atop its sign and other improvements. The restaurant also includes a solar-powered charging station for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. About 720 solar PV modules will generate at least 53,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, the company said in a news release. A wind turbine added to the traditional exterior logo sign will provide additional electricity.

"This new energy-efficient restaurant uses renewable-energy systems … that are estimated to save nearly half of this restaurant's yearly electricity costs," said Jonathan Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of franchise operations for Burger King Corp.'s Europe, Middle East and Africa region. "Implementing these new green-energy systems reduces the environmental impact and is another step in our ongoing commitment to our BK Positive Steps corporate responsibility program."

The new restaurant is in Waghausel, in southwestern Germany near Mannheim. The design was developed in cooperation with the company Wirsol Solar A.G. In addition to the solar and wind energy equipment, the restaurant has an interior heat-recovery ventilation system, interior and exterior LED lights, a heat-capture system to generate hot water and a rainwater collection system for landscaping irrigation. It also has a batch broiler that reduces gas consumption, the company said.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net