The Future Looks Green for Burger King

by Nichol Nelson, Posted Jun 16th 2010 @ 1:00PM

At a new Burger King in Waghäusel, Germany, you can get your Whopper with a side of environmentally responsible energy. The store, developed with the help of a solar energy company called Wirsol Solar AG, uses more than 700 solar panels and other renewable energy sources to supply a third of the restaurant's power.

The green restaurant is part of the burger chain's program of "social responsibility," a push they're calling BK Positive Steps. The company believes strongly that these environmentally friendly stores -- along with their much-touted, high-power broilers already in place in U.S. stores -- are the cornerstone of the chain's future.

The Waghäusel location boasts some pretty impressive stats: The 720 solar panels will generate the equivalent of 53,500 kWh of electricity per year, which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, is the annual power consumption of five U.S. households. A ventilation system captures excessive heat loss and uses it to generate hot water, which conserves 50 percent of annual energy consumption per year. The outdoor Burger King logo has been modified to include a wind turbine, which supplies 2500 KWH of the restaurant's power supply, while LED bulbs cut energy use by more than 55 percent. It's even got a solar paneled recharging station for electric cars.

The German store gives another peek into the future of BK -- it's designed using the brand's 20/20 concept, which uses contemporary materials like corrugated metal, brick and concrete. Company execs say the "design takes the brand's signature flame-broiling core attribute a step further by creating an exceptional and memorable dining environment."

It's hard to complain about initiatives like these, no matter how contrived they may be. But will fast food customers respond? Industry watchers will be keeping their eyes on Germany to find out.

Filed Under: Fast Food, Eco-Friendly
Tags: burger king, burger king germany, germany, solar panels, wirsol solar ag

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Reader comments (Page 2 of 2)

6-17-2010 @1:00PM 12212012 said... Here in So. Fl the BK's are dirty, the people are rude with a nasty attitude. Thank You is out of the question. The food is microwaved and old, or not hot at all and the fries suck. They need to fix the stores and get with fresher food. Compare a BK to a Chik-fil- a and you will never go to BK again.
Hot food should be hot and cold food should be cold, period.
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6-17-2010 @1:06PM Richard Ott said... Mr. Burger King, hear me out. I realise that your competition may be getting
tougher with McDonald's, and you've even mocked him in your commercials
for burgers and what not, so I can understand how jealous you might be.
However, what in the name of fast food joints all over the entire world,
what gives you the right to expose the location address above, 666 on
the internet? If you've been trying your hardest to ruin the reputation of
McDonald's restaurants everywhere, sorry, but your latest master plan
for the devil sign just won't work. It will only expose you, Mr. Burger King,
for the craven coward, your most unroyal majesty, that you really are!
There is nothing in this world you can do, or say to me, physically, or
verbally, that will make me give in to eating at ANY of your restaurants,
so as far as I'm concerned, you can pack up your thrown, and go to hell!
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6-17-2010 @1:10PM evelyn metalonis said... I haven't been to Burger King in years. I won't go back until they get rid of the horrible, ugly, disgusting icon of a king on their ads. From the moment they introduced him, I stopped going. I applaud their going green, but you would think they would want something less creepy as their mascot.
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6-17-2010 @1:19PM tara said... i worked at a BK for over a year and yes most of the small burgers you eat are nuked. each burger gets 30 in the microwave before going on to a heat shoot. and the veggie burgers are always cooked in the microwave, because you can't cook them on the same grill as beef. most of the chicken is deep fried and then it sits in a tub until you order it.. if its to cold.. it goes into the mic for 30.. sorry to say but unless you order your meal fresh of the grill or FOG or fresh out the fryer FOF then your going to get microwaved food.
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6-17-2010 @1:28PM Jen said... Did anyone else notice that their address is '666'? Maybe its not such a good idea...lol
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6-17-2010 @1:59PM wpbdenise said... Gee...I was hoping BK was getting rid of that creepy king...
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6-17-2010 @2:12PM LST said... If only they'd dump that creepy, ugly worthless plastic mascot, perhaps they'd gain further respect as well. BK has THE stupidist most tasteless idiotic commercials of them all. I don't ever accept a burger from them unless I tell them "off the broiler" when I order. Its a longer wait, but very well worth it, you'll get a fresh hot one, not something that's been parked under a heat lamp for who knows how long and tastes like road kill.
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