Green Restaurant Certification
In 2017, all three of our dining centers, Hillside, Northside and Southside, became Level 1 Certified Green® Restaurants. Our certification is administered by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a national nonprofit organization helping restaurants to become more environmentally sustainable.
The program evaluates Dining Services' energy usage, water and waste management and chemical reduction efforts. Dining Services' efforts have resulted in the following savings:
- 54,588 gallons of water, the equivalent to the amount of five backyard swimming pools
- 21,690 kWh of electricity, the equivalent of taking three passenger vehicles off the road for a year
- 225,000 pounds of waste, the equivalent of nine tractor trailer loads
- $4,037 in energy and water bills
Some ways Dining Services has become more environmentally sustainable at Hillside, Northside and Southside include:
- Recycling plastics, glass, aluminum, cardboard, paper, and kitchen scraps, which can keep up to 80% of waste out of landfills.
- Providing customers with reusable dishes, utensils, trays, and, at Northside Cafe, take-out containers. By doing this, Dining Services keeps waste out of landfills and conserves natural resources.
- Insulating pipes to/from the water heater, which reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature 2-4 degrees hotter than uninsulated pipes can deliver. This helps conserve water by not having to wait as long for water to come to temperature.
- Using energy star qualified pieces of equipment – combination oven, holding cabinet and printers - which are 30-40% more efficient than conventional models.
To learn more about the Green Restaurant Association and its certification standards, visit their website.
