An Applebee’s location opening in New York Dec. 10 will be the first restaurant in the city to receive a gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the Green Building Council. Located in East Harlem, the restaurant boasts earth-friendly features such as rooftop rainwater harvesting, waterless urinals and a “living wall” constructed almost entirely of plants.
As a result, the Applebee’s will save on water and air conditioning, while LED lights and energy efficient appliances will reduce gas costs and keep energy use lower than at a typical restaurant. But green construction don’t come cheap: The location cost $4 million to build, which according to the company that built it is about $1 million more than a conventional Applebee’s.
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