Dunkin’ Donuts Soon to Run on LEED?

Dunkin Donuts has just announced completion of its first LEED certified store in the country. Dunkin’ Donuts broke ground on the St. Petersburg, FL store in May and celebrated the grand opening on October 17. Dunkin’ hopes to use the store as an example for future building endeavors, and will hopefully have a positive influence on the way they do business in the future.

The new store is built with numerous LEED enhancements including: energy-efficient insulated walls to reduce air-conditioning needs by 40%, energy-efficient lighting, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, low-flow toilets, and the usage of well water rather than potable water for irrigation. Along with the energy efficient building, Dunkin’ Donuts launched recycling initiatives, green cleaning programs, and they are now supplying local food banks with excess goods.

The Massachusetts-based business was founded in 1950 and has since become the number one retailer of coffee in America. With over 7,900 stores world-wide, the grand opening of the St. Petersburg store is just a drop in the proverbial coffee cup. Let’s hope that the successful opening of this unconventional pilot store will inspire Dunkin’ Donuts to apply the same thinking and environmental enthusiasm to other locations they operate.

Dunkin’ Donuts