First Eco-Restaurant in Argentina

The world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants has opened the first eco-restaurant in Pilar, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

McDonald’s new innovation has implemented rational and efficient water use standards, which have already been implemented in other international McDonald’s restaurants. This new eco-restaurant is set up in the Kilometer 50 of Pamanericana Highway (Pilar exit). Besides, this new facility offers an amazing wind power unit (wind turbine) in order to produce wind power.

This initiative has highlighted the new eco-restaurants trend, as it fosters the development of eco-friendly buildings by implementing technologies that reduce negative environmental impact when being built and, once finished, when operating.

These new facilities have been given the name of “Eco-Restaurants,” as the new technologies implemented reduce environmental impact. They are built under the most strict environmental sustainability standards and they operate using clean energy, an efficient power source; besides, they make a rational use of water and use natural, renewable, recycled and local materials.

The design and architecture of this new Eco-Restaurant show the environmental features offered by it. In fact, it complies with all international standards in order to be awarded a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certification as the first eco-restaurant in the country.

The place also has intelligent lighting systems and a wind generator, as well as, thermal insulation devices. Furthermore, the windows were covered with a 3M coating film in order to filter sun light, thus avoiding high temperature in areas near windows.

In a traditional restaurant, lighting accounts for 20% of total energy consumption. In this new restaurant, thanks to the implementation of the above measures, a 14% energy saving was achieved, thus fulfilling one of LEED pre-requirements to obtain the pre-certification intended for sustainable buildings.

Source: CEDU (Argentine Chamber of Urban Developers)