With rooftop rainwater harvesting and waterless urinals, American restaurant chain Applebee’s will be opening the greenest restaurant in New York City—according to New York Post.
The eco-friendly outpost—that cost US$4 million to build (US$1 million more than a conventional Applebee’s)—will be the first eatery to receive a gold in LEED-certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
It will also be equipped with: a white roof to keep it cool in summer and save on air-conditioning costs; LED lights with motion sensors to switch off when no one’s around; recycled carpeting; bamboo-made chandeliers, countertops and bar; and energy-efficient appliances that use one-third less gas to run.
Its ‘waterless’ urinals will save about 40,000 gallons of water a year, and will use rainwater, collected in a tank system on the rooftop, for flushing—while its plants will be watered and fertilized automatically.
Applebee’s green restaurant will be opening its doors on 10 December in East Harlem.
[via New York Post, images via Inhabitat]