CKE opens ‘green’ Carl’s Jr. unit

by mmathews on 02/12 at 07:07 AM

By Elissa Elan - CARPINTERIA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2009) Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s parent CKE Restaurants Inc. said Tuesday it has opened a “green” Carl’s Jr. restaurant near its headquarters here that it will use to evaluate conservation and energy-efficient efforts to determine whether they could be implemented across all its brands.

The environmentally friendly features at the new store, the company’s first green Carl’s Jr. unit, include Energy Star-rated equipment, solar reflective roofing material that cuts heat absorption, a rainwater reuse system, an electronically controlled energy management system, and a catalyst that converts charbroiler particulate into carbon dioxide and water, which reduces smoke, odors and emissions.

The store was constructed from the shell of a former restaurant in order to reduce the construction footprint, officials said.

“With our ongoing emphasis on corporate environmental initiatives, we are demonstrating that we can be both a good neighbor and a financially sound business,” said Andrew F. Puzder, the chain’s chief executive. “Our current companywide environmental initiatives are either cost neutral or result in a cost savings benefit, providing for a better planet while also contributing to the bottom line.”

CKE has implemented such companywide environmental initiatives as electronic waste recycling, the recycling and conversion of fryer oil into bio-fuel, and compact fluorescent lamp, or CFL, lighting replacement at all corporate-owned restaurants.

Puzder contended that CKE’s commitment to the environment “is more than just lip service, it is a point of pride throughout the company and can be held up as an example for other businesses that sustainability should be a top priority.”

CKE operates or franchises 1,185 Carl’s Jr. units and 1,912 Hardee’s locations.

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